Switching off PSTN

Harry Bowlby at Spitfire Network Services explains what the end of the Openreach contract means for business continuity

 

For months now, much of the talk surrounding the PSTN Switch Off has focused on deadlines: the (now postponed) 2025 end-date, the push to transition to all-IP, and the ticking clock on outdated infrastructure. But there’s an element that’s been flying under the radar here—one that could have serious consequences for service providers and the businesses they support.

 

On 31st December 2025, the existing contract between service providers and Openreach will expire. And Openreach has already given notice that this agreement won’t be renewed in its current form. What happens next? A new contract, yes—but exactly what it will contain remains unknown. What is expected, however, is a marked change in support terms—most notably, less favourable service level agreements (SLAs) for repairs and response. This matters.

 

It means businesses that leave their migration until the last moment will not only face potential delays from capacity bottlenecks but could also find themselves tied to less responsive support structures. In other words, when something breaks, it’ll take longer to fix.

 

And when your connectivity is critical to operations—be it voice services, broadband, payment systems, alarms, or IoT devices—every extra hour of downtime is a risk to your bottom line.

 

 

A future of fewer guarantees

The next contract between Openreach and service providers will almost certainly reflect the industry’s shift away from analogue infrastructure. Openreach’s legacy systems are expensive to maintain, increasingly unstable, and out of step with the demands of modern businesses. Resources are already being reallocated to digital infrastructure, and it’s clear that support for the old copper-based systems will begin to taper off, just as more organisations finally scramble to switch.

 

This leaves us with a narrowing window in which to act. Despite the switch-off date being pushed to January 2027, the practical deadline for maintaining continuity and control may be far earlier: before December 2025, when the current contract protections expire and support structures as we know them begin to change.

 

 

Delay now, pay later

For businesses still weighing their options, the temptation to defer action may be stronger than ever. The announcement of a new deadline has, predictably, eased the pressure–for now. It may also have created a potentially dangerous false sense of security. The delay to the official switch-off date doesn’t account for the very real operational and commercial impacts of the contract change.

 

In practical terms, this change could mean significantly slower repair times as SLA standards begin to loosen. The risk of service interruptions for customer legacy systems is likely to rise, with Openreach support teams focused on maintaining newer infrastructure. Engineering resources will be stretched thin as more businesses enter the migration process in a condensed time frame, leading to bottlenecks and potentially long wait times for installation or troubleshooting.

 

Perhaps most worryingly, the pressure of a last-minute switchover could push organisations into reactive decisions—selecting whatever solution is available rather than what’s strategically right for their needs.

 

Rushed migrations are rarely successful. There’s a real possibility that businesses delaying their move could not only face longer downtime during faults but could also end up locked into subpar systems that don’t deliver the functionality, flexibility, or resilience they need.§ And once the new contract terms are in place, the safety net we’ve all grown used to—responsive repair times, guaranteed service continuity—may no longer be there to catch you if you fall.

 

 

Being proactive is a strategic advantage

Moving to all-IP is an opportunity to reassess communications, reduce costs, and embrace modern, flexible infrastructure. But these benefits are best realised when the switch is planned, not panicked. When businesses take the time to assess their needs, understand their dependencies, and choose solutions based on future growth—not last-minute availability—they position themselves for long-term success.

 

Acting now means businesses can take advantage of the stronger SLA terms that are in place today on the latest Openreach and communications provider All IP services, rather than grappling with diminished support on legacy Openreach services after 2025. It means they can avoid the growing wave of demand that will hit in 2026 and take the time to select a solution that’s genuinely fit for purpose. It also gives IT teams and providers the breathing room they need to implement, test, and refine systems—so that the switchover is seamless, rather than disruptive.

 

It’s also worth remembering that many businesses rely on systems that connect beyond phones: payment terminals, security alarms, door entry systems, lifts, and more. These all depend on uninterrupted connectivity, and the time to audit these dependencies is now—not during a fault, and certainly not during a support slowdown.

 

 

Expertise in uncertain times

 The truth is no one yet knows what the new contracts will look like. But based on the trajectory of telecoms policy, the focus will be digital-first, and the terms for legacy support will decline. The writing is on the wall for PSTN and ISDN services, and while the final stages of this transition are still in motion, the direction is clear.

 

Businesses need guidance, not guesswork. This is where working with experienced partners, those who understand both the legacy environment and the future IP landscape, can make all the difference. It’s about making the right switch, in the right way, at the right time.

 

The message here is clear: don’t wait until the switch-off becomes urgent. Consider the expiry of the current Openreach contract as a hard deadline. Because after that, the support you’re used to may not be there when you need it most.

 

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Harry Bowlby is MD at Spitfire Network Services Limited

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and Igor Nikushin