Month: June 2026

Are Landlines Being Phased Out? What to Do Next

Posted on by Jake Boase

Yes. The UK’s traditional landline is being phased out. The old analogue phone network, known as the PSTN, is being switched off and replaced with digital calling that runs over the internet. If you still have a traditional home or business phone line, it will move to a digital service before the network is retired at the end of January 2027.

What is the UK landline switch off?

The UK landline switch off is the retirement of the old analogue phone network, and every home and business still on it will be moved to digital calling before the deadline. The regulator Ofcom has more on the change.

UK landline switch off affecting an office telephone

Here is what that actually means, why it is happening, and the simple steps to make sure your phone, and everything else that quietly relies on your line, keeps working.

Why are landlines being switched off?

The copper based analogue network has carried our calls for well over a century, but it is old, expensive to maintain and increasingly unreliable. Openreach is retiring it and moving everyone to digital voice, where calls travel over a broadband connection instead of copper wires. It is the same shift the mobile and internet worlds made years ago. For the full business detail, see our guide to the PSTN and landline switch-off.

When will my landline stop working?

  • 2023: new analogue phone lines stopped being sold.
  • Now: existing lines are being migrated to digital in a rolling regional programme.
  • End of January 2027: the analogue network is switched off completely.

The final deadline was extended from December 2025 to give people more time to migrate safely, particularly households with vulnerable users or equipment that depends on a phone line. The end result is the same, only the timeline moved.

What it means at home

For most homes the change is simple. Your calls move to digital voice, usually plugged into your broadband router, and in many cases you can keep your existing phone and number. If you have a personal alarm or a telecare pendant, tell your provider, as these need checking before the switch.

What it means for business

Businesses have more to think about, because it is not only desk phones that use a line. Alarms, door entry systems, lift phones, card machines and fax machines can all dial out over analogue lines and may stop working after the switch. The move is also an opportunity: modern VoIP phone systems are cheaper to run and far better for hybrid working than the old lines ever were.

What replaces the landline?

  • Digital voice, or VoIP: your calls run over the internet through a hosted phone system, keeping your numbers and adding features like mobile apps and call recording.
  • Modern broadband: SoGEA broadband and full fibre deliver internet without needing a traditional phone line at all. For homes, our home broadband options do the same.

What you should do now

  • Check what depends on your line, including alarms, lifts and card machines.
  • Plan your move to digital voice and confirm you can keep your number.
  • Make sure your broadband is up to the job, upgrading to SoGEA or full fibre if needed.
  • Do not wait for the deadline, as migrating early avoids any risk of being cut off.

How ATS Connection can help

We help homes and businesses across West Sussex move off the old network smoothly. We check what you have, recommend the right digital phone and broadband setup, port your numbers and manage the switch with no loss of service. Get a quote or call us on 01903 255 159.

Frequently asked questions

Are landlines really being phased out in the UK?

Yes. The analogue phone network is being retired and switched off by the end of January 2027, with all lines moving to digital voice delivered over broadband.

Will I lose my phone number?

No. Your existing number can be ported across to the digital service, so you keep it when you move.

Do I need the internet for a digital landline?

Yes. Digital voice runs over a broadband connection, which is why it is worth making sure your broadband is reliable before you switch.

What happens if I do nothing?

When the analogue network is switched off, any service still on it stops working. It is much safer to migrate ahead of the deadline.

Is digital voice more expensive?

Usually it is cheaper, because there is no separate line rental and calls are often included, plus you gain features a traditional line never had.

In-House vs Outsourced IT Support: Which Is Right for You?

Posted on by Jake Boase

In-house vs outsourced IT support is one of the first big decisions a growing business faces. Do you hire someone to look after your IT internally, or hand it to a specialist provider? Both models have their place, but for most small and medium businesses, outsourced IT support wins on cost, expertise and resilience, while larger teams often use a hybrid of the two. This guide compares the two approaches so you can choose the right one for your business.

What is in-house IT support?

In-house IT support means employing one or more people to manage your technology directly. The upside is someone on site who knows your business intimately and is always on your team. The downsides are significant, though: a single hire is expensive once you add salary, National Insurance, training and holiday cover, one person cannot be an expert in everything from networking to cyber security, and if they are off sick or leave, you have a single point of failure with no cover.

What is outsourced IT support?

Outsourced IT support means a specialist provider runs your IT for a fixed monthly fee, covering the helpdesk, security, monitoring, Microsoft 365 and strategy. Instead of one person you get a whole team, with cover built in and broader expertise, usually for less than the cost of a single senior hire. Our guide to outsourced IT support explains how the service works in detail. If you are still deciding, our guide on why outsource your IT support covers the benefits in full.

In-house vs outsourced: the cost comparison

Cost is often the deciding factor. A single in-house IT hire typically costs £35,000 to £50,000 a year once you include salary, National Insurance, training and cover, and you still need to buy tools and monitoring on top. Outsourced IT support is charged as a predictable monthly fee, usually per user, and gives you a whole team for a fraction of that. For a full breakdown, see our guide on how much outsourced IT support costs.

Expertise and cover

This is where outsourcing really pulls ahead. Modern IT spans helpdesk support, cyber security, cloud, Microsoft 365, networking and strategy, and no single person can master all of it. An outsourced provider brings specialists across every discipline, plus holiday and sickness cover so support never stops. An in-house hire, by contrast, is one person with one set of skills and no backup.

Security

Cyber security is now too important and too specialised to leave to one generalist. A good outsourced provider builds managed cyber security, Cyber Essentials and monitoring into the service as standard, with dedicated tools and up-to-date expertise. In-house teams can do this well, but usually need external specialists to fill the gaps, which adds cost.

The hybrid model

It is not always either or. Many larger organisations use a hybrid, or co-managed, model: they keep someone in-house for day-to-day, hands-on needs and outsource the specialist, security and out-of-hours work to a provider. This gives you the best of both, an on-site presence backed by a full external team, and it is often the right answer once you get past a few hundred users.

Which is right for your business?

For most small and medium businesses, outsourced IT support delivers broader expertise, better security and greater resilience at a lower total cost than an in-house hire. Very large organisations, or those with highly specialist needs, may prefer a hybrid model. The best way to decide is to weigh up your size, sector and how much you rely on technology, which a short review will make clear.

Not sure which model fits?

We can help you weigh it up. Book a free IT review or get a quote, and we will give you an honest, costed recommendation for your business, whether that is fully outsourced or a hybrid approach.

Frequently asked questions

Is in-house or outsourced IT support better?

For most small and medium businesses, outsourced IT support is better on cost, expertise and resilience. Larger organisations often use a hybrid of in-house and outsourced.

Is outsourced IT cheaper than in-house?

Usually, yes. You get a whole team for less than the cost of a single senior in-house hire, with cover built in and no single point of failure.

What are the downsides of in-house IT?

Cost, limited breadth from a single person, and a single point of failure with no cover if they are off sick or leave.

Can I combine in-house and outsourced IT?

Yes. A hybrid or co-managed model keeps someone in-house for day-to-day needs and outsources the specialist, security and out-of-hours work to a provider.

Does outsourcing mean losing control of my IT?

No. You keep ownership of your systems, data and decisions. The provider handles the day-to-day work and reports back to you.

Which is more secure, in-house or outsourced?

A good outsourced provider usually offers stronger, more consistent security, with dedicated tools, monitoring and up-to-date expertise built into the service.

What is VoIP? A Simple Guide for Businesses

Posted on by Jake Boase

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. In plain English, it means making phone calls over the internet instead of a traditional phone line. If you have used WhatsApp calling, Microsoft Teams or FaceTime, you have already used VoIP. Business VoIP takes the same idea and turns it into a full, reliable phone system for your company.

What is VoIP?

So what is VoIP? In short, VoIP means making phone calls over the internet instead of over a traditional phone line, and it is now how most UK businesses make and take their calls. For the technical background there is a helpful overview of Voice over IP.

What is VoIP shown by a VoIP desk phone

With the old analogue network being switched off, VoIP is now how UK businesses make and receive calls. Here is how it works, what it costs you to run, and why it is a big upgrade on a traditional line.

How does VoIP work?

Instead of sending your voice down a copper wire, VoIP converts it into digital data and sends it over your internet connection to a hosted phone system in the cloud. That system handles your calls, your numbers and all the clever features, then connects to the wider phone network so you can still call any landline or mobile. You can use a desk handset, a computer, or a mobile app, and it all works as one system.

The benefits of VoIP for business

  • Lower cost: no line rental, and calls are often included, so most businesses save money.
  • Work anywhere: your office number rings on your laptop or phone whether you are at your desk, at home or on the move.
  • Powerful features: call recording, auto-attendant menus, voicemail to email, hold music, call queues and reporting come as standard.
  • Easy to scale: add or remove users in minutes as your team changes.
  • One system across sites: every office and home worker sits on the same phone system.

VoIP versus a traditional landline

A traditional line ties a number to a physical socket and charges you line rental for the privilege. VoIP frees the number from the wire, so your team can answer the same number from anywhere, and you gain features a copper line could never offer. With the analogue network being switched off, VoIP is also the natural replacement rather than an optional upgrade.

Is VoIP reliable?

Yes, when it is set up properly. Delivered over a solid business broadband connection such as SoGEA or full fibre, modern VoIP is stable and clear, and it comes with failover options so calls can automatically divert to mobiles if your internet ever drops. Reliability comes down to getting the connectivity right underneath it, which is where a good provider earns their keep.

What do you need to get started?

  • A reliable broadband connection.
  • VoIP handsets, or just the app on your computers and mobiles.
  • A hosted phone system, set up with your numbers, menus and users.
  • Your existing numbers ported across so nothing changes for your customers.

If you need new numbers as well, we can help you choose the right ones, including local, national and freephone, on our business phone numbers page.

How ATS Connection can help

We design, install and support VoIP phone systems for businesses across West Sussex, handled end to end. We sort the broadband, port your numbers, set the system up around how your team actually works, and support it afterwards. Get a quote or call 01903 255 159.

Frequently asked questions

What does VoIP stand for?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It means making phone calls over the internet instead of a traditional analogue phone line.

Is VoIP cheaper than a normal phone line?

For most businesses, yes. There is no separate line rental, calls are often included, and one system covers every user, which usually reduces the overall bill.

Can I keep my existing phone number with VoIP?

Yes. Existing numbers can be ported to a VoIP system, so your customers see no change.

Do I need special phones for VoIP?

Not necessarily. You can use VoIP handsets, or simply an app on your computer or mobile. Many existing phones can also be adapted.

Is VoIP reliable enough for a business?

Yes. Over business grade broadband it is reliable and clear, and it includes failover so calls can divert to mobiles if your connection ever drops.