Tag: VOIP

The Big Switch Off: What the January 2027 Landline Shutdown Means for Your Business

Posted on by Jake Boase

What Is the Big Switch Off?

The Big Switch Off is the permanent shutdown of the UK’s analogue telephone network, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), on 31 January 2027.

The PSTN is the copper-wire network that has carried Britain’s phone calls for over a century. Every traditional landline, every fax machine, and every ISDN phone system runs across it. So do many things you might not expect: card payment terminals, fire and burglar alarms, lift emergency lines, CCTV systems and door entry panels.

When the PSTN goes, everything that depends on it stops working. Openreach has confirmed the deadline is fixed and will not move again. Any business still relying on analogue lines needs a migration plan, and with the deadline now under seven months away, that plan needs to happen soon. For the full step-by-step guide, see our PSTN and landline switch-off overview, or get a quote to start your migration.

When Is the Switch Off Happening?

The full PSTN shutdown completes on 31 January 2027, but for many businesses the practical deadline is earlier:

  • September 2023: Openreach stopped selling new analogue lines and ISDN nationwide (the “stop sell”)
  • May 2024: The original December 2025 deadline was extended to January 2027 to allow safe migration of vulnerable users
  • Throughout 2025-2026: Local exchanges are being migrated in phases, so some areas lose analogue service before the national deadline
  • 1 January 2026: Legacy line rental moved to 90-day rolling contracts
  • During 2026: Wholesale prices for legacy lines rise sharply in three stages (more on this below)
  • 31 January 2027: The PSTN is switched off permanently

Openreach has been clear the deadline cannot slip again. Their view is that the ageing copper network is now a bigger risk than the migration itself: major incidents on the PSTN rose 45% in a single year, and a single incident can knock out 500 or more lines at once.

Some communications providers set their own earlier cut-off dates, so don’t assume you have until January 2027. If your provider hasn’t contacted you about migration, that’s a red flag in itself.

Why Is the PSTN Being Switched Off?

The short answer: the network is over 100 years old and falling apart.

The copper PSTN was engineered for a world of rotary dial phones. The parts to maintain it are increasingly difficult to source, the engineers who know how to fix it are retiring, and the failure rate is climbing every year. According to Openreach, the analogue network is now obsolete, harder to maintain, and significantly more expensive to run.

Meanwhile, the replacement, digital voice services running over broadband, is cheaper to operate, more reliable, and far more capable. The UK is following the same path as most developed countries: the Netherlands, Estonia and others have already completed their analogue switch-offs.

This is part of a wider upgrade. Openreach is investing £15 billion in full fibre broadband, and retiring the copper network is a key part of moving the country onto modern digital infrastructure.

What Happens If You Do Nothing?

This is the question that matters most, and the answer is blunt.

If you take no action before your line is migrated or switched off, your provider may default you onto a basic emergency-only fallback service. That means your number can reach 999, and nothing else. No inbound calls from customers. No outbound calls to suppliers. Your business number effectively goes dark.

Before that happens, you’ll be paying steadily more for a service with a confirmed shutdown date, because Openreach is deliberately raising legacy line prices to push the final migrations through.

And it’s not gradual. When your exchange is migrated, analogue service ends. Businesses that leave it until the final weeks risk joining a last-minute rush, with every provider’s installation calendar full, hardware in short supply, and no room for the porting process to run smoothly.

Roughly 2.8 million lines were still on the PSTN at the start of 2026, over half a million of them serving business premises. That’s a lot of businesses competing for engineer availability in the final months. Moving early isn’t just safer, it’s the only way to guarantee a smooth transition on your own timetable.

It’s Not Just Phones: What Else Is Affected

The most dangerous misconception about the Big Switch Off is that it only affects desk phones. In reality, decades of equipment has been quietly wired into analogue lines:

  • Card payment terminals – older PDQ machines that dial out over a phone line
  • Fire and intruder alarms – many alarm panels signal to monitoring centres via PSTN
  • Lift emergency lines – over 12,000 lift lines were still on copper at the start of 2026
  • CCTV systems – legacy setups using phone lines for remote monitoring
  • Door entry and gate systems – intercoms that dial a phone number
  • Fax machines – still common in some industries
  • Franking machines – older models connect via analogue line
  • ISDN phone systems – ISDN2 and ISDN30 run on the same copper network and die with it
  • ADSL and FTTC broadband – older broadband products delivered over the copper network are being withdrawn too

For sectors like construction, hospitality and property management, the alarm, lift and payment terminal issue is often bigger than the phones themselves. A hotel with an analogue fire alarm line or a property firm managing buildings with copper lift lines has a compliance and safety problem, not just a telecoms one.

The fix is an audit: walk through everything in your premises that plugs into a phone socket, and check with your suppliers whether each device has a digital-ready replacement or upgrade path.

Legacy Line Prices Are Rising Right Now

If the deadline alone isn’t persuasive, the pricing should be. Openreach has confirmed a tiered set of wholesale price increases on legacy line rental designed to make staying on copper uneconomic:

DateWholesale price increase
1 April 2026+20%
1 July 2026+40%
1 October 2026Further +40%

By this autumn, the cost of a legacy analogue line will have effectively doubled compared to the start of the year. In many cases it’s already cheaper to be on a modern digital service than to keep paying for the old line.

In other words: doing nothing isn’t the cheap option. It’s the expensive option with a hard stop at the end.

What Replaces Your Landline?

The replacement for analogue phone lines is VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol. Instead of your calls travelling down a dedicated copper wire, they travel over your broadband connection as data.

For a typical small business, a modern hosted VoIP system means:

  • Desk phones that plug into your network (or softphone apps on computers and mobiles)
  • A cloud phone system managed through a web portal instead of a box on the wall
  • Your existing numbers, ported across so nothing changes for your customers
  • Calls over broadband, ideally full fibre (FTTP) or SoGEA where fibre isn’t available yet

At ATS Connection we provide business VoIP built on the Xelion platform, a fully featured cloud phone system that handles call routing, voicemail-to-email, mobile apps, call recording and hunt groups as standard. It’s the same system we use ourselves, and we’ve migrated businesses across West Sussex from ageing analogue and ISDN setups onto it, including multi-site companies and businesses with complex call-handling needs.

If your broadband also runs on the old copper network (ADSL or FTTC), the switch is the right moment to upgrade connectivity at the same time. One project, one provider, everything future-proofed together.

The Benefits of Switching to VoIP

The Big Switch Off is forcing the move, but for most businesses VoIP is a genuine upgrade rather than a like-for-like swap:

Lower running costs. No line rental on copper pairs, cheaper call rates, and free calls between sites and colleagues. Most businesses save money compared to their old analogue or ISDN bills.

Work from anywhere. Your business number rings on your desk phone, your laptop and your mobile. Staff working from home or on site answer calls exactly as if they were in the office, a game-changer for trades, construction and field-based teams.

Scale up and down instantly. Adding a new user is a few clicks, not an engineer visit and a new line installation. Seasonal businesses can add lines for busy periods and remove them after.

Professional call handling. Auto-attendants (“press 1 for sales…”), hunt groups, call queues, out-of-hours routing and voicemail-to-email. Features that used to require an expensive on-premise phone system come as standard.

Business continuity. If your office loses power or internet, calls automatically divert to mobiles. With an analogue line, a fault means silence until an engineer arrives.

Call insights. See call volumes, missed calls and response times. Useful data you simply never had with analogue lines.

Will You Lose Your Phone Number?

No. This is the most common worry we hear, and it’s the easiest to put to rest.

Your existing numbers, including long-standing local numbers your customers have known for years, can be ported to your new VoIP service. The porting process is handled between providers and typically takes 10-15 working days. There’s no need to reprint stationery, update signage or change your website.

The key is to never cancel your old line before the port completes. Cancelling first can mean losing the number permanently. A competent provider will manage the sequencing for you so there’s no gap in service: your new system goes live, the number ports across, and only then does the old line get ceased.

How to Prepare: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Here’s the practical path from “still on analogue” to “sorted”:

1. Audit everything connected to a phone line. Phones, alarms, lifts, card machines, door entry, fax, CCTV. List every device and every line. This is the step most businesses skip, and it’s where the nasty surprises hide.

2. Check your broadband. VoIP needs a reliable internet connection. If you’re on ADSL or FTTC, plan the broadband upgrade alongside the phone migration. Check full fibre availability for your postcode.

3. Count your users and map your call flows. Who needs a handset? Who’s fine with an app? How should incoming calls route: reception first, then a hunt group? Out-of-hours to a mobile? This shapes the system design.

4. Choose your VoIP provider and system. Look for business-grade platforms, UK support, and a provider who handles number porting and installation end to end.

5. Deal with the non-phone equipment. Contact your alarm company, lift maintainer and payment provider about digital-ready upgrades. Most have well-established migration paths now, but lead times vary.

6. Schedule the migration. Ideally months before the deadline, not weeks. Number porting, hardware delivery and any broadband installation all have lead times that compound if left late.

7. Test everything, then cease the old lines. Only cancel legacy lines once numbers have ported and every dependent device is confirmed working on its new connection.

If that list feels like a lot, that’s what we’re here for. We run this entire process for clients as a single managed project, from audit through to the final line cease.

How Long Does Switching Take?

For a straightforward small business, a handful of users, decent broadband already in place, the switch can be completed in 2-4 weeks, most of which is waiting for number porting.

Add broadband upgrades, multiple sites, or dependent equipment like alarms and lift lines, and a realistic timeline is 1-3 months to do everything properly without disruption.

That’s exactly why the time to start is now, not December. Businesses that begin the process in the second half of 2026 will be competing with hundreds of thousands of others for engineer appointments, hardware and porting slots. Starting now means you choose the timetable; starting late means the timetable chooses you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Big Switch Off in the UK?

The Big Switch Off is the permanent retirement of the UK’s analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) on 31 January 2027. All traditional landlines, ISDN phone systems and services running over the copper phone network will stop working and must be replaced with digital (VoIP) alternatives.

When exactly will my landline stop working?

The national deadline is 31 January 2027, but exchanges are being migrated in phases and some providers have set earlier dates. Your line could be affected before the final deadline, so check with your provider now rather than assuming you have until 2027.

Will the PSTN switch off be delayed again?

No. The deadline was moved once, from December 2025 to January 2027, to protect vulnerable users during migration. Openreach has confirmed that work is complete and the January 2027 date is fixed.

Does the switch off affect broadband too?

Yes, partly. ADSL and FTTC broadband run over the same copper network and are being withdrawn alongside the PSTN. Full fibre (FTTP) and SoGEA connections are unaffected; they’re the replacements.

Can I keep my business phone number when I switch to VoIP?

Yes. Numbers are ported to your new VoIP provider, typically within 10-15 working days. Don’t cancel your old line until the port has completed, or you risk losing the number.

What happens to my card machine and alarm system?

Any device that connects via an analogue phone line, such as card terminals, fire and intruder alarms, lift lines and door entry systems, needs a digital upgrade before the switch off. Contact each supplier about their migration path, and do it early as lead times vary.

Is VoIP more expensive than a landline?

Usually the opposite. Most businesses pay less per user per month for VoIP than they did in line rental and call charges, and legacy line prices are rising steeply through 2026 anyway. VoIP also removes the cost of maintaining an on-premise phone system.

Do I need new phone handsets for VoIP?

Not necessarily. Modern VoIP systems work with dedicated IP desk phones, softphone apps on computers, and mobile apps. Some existing handsets can be reused with adapters, though for most businesses new IP handsets or apps are the cleaner option.

What if my internet goes down? Will I lose my phones?

Calls can automatically divert to mobiles or another site if your connection fails, which is more resilient than analogue ever was: a copper line fault meant no calls at all until an engineer fixed it. A well-designed VoIP setup includes failover from day one.

What should businesses in West Sussex do first?

Start with an audit of every line and every device connected to one. If you’d rather not do that yourself, we offer a free switch-off readiness check for businesses across West Sussex. We’ll identify what’s affected and map out the migration for you.

Get Switched Before the Deadline

The Big Switch Off isn’t a maybe. It’s a fixed deadline with rising costs for anyone who waits. The businesses that come out of it best are the ones treating it as an opportunity: modern phones, better call handling, lower bills and a system that works wherever your team does.

At ATS Connection we’ve been moving West Sussex businesses onto our Xelion-based VoIP platform ahead of the deadline, handling the audit, the number porting, the hardware and the broadband, all as one managed project. We help businesses across Chichester and West Sussex plan the move well ahead of the deadline.

Book your free Big Switch Off readiness check:

We offer:

Don’t wait for the last-minute rush. Get ahead of the deadline while there’s still time to do it properly.

VoIP Is On Its Way: What Happens When Your Old Landline Stops Working

Posted on by Tobias Gillott

Landline phones have become so obsolete that even one of our director’s Jake Boase’s parents have given up theirs. While many of us increasingly rely on our phones for everything, the UK still has a fully functional landline network, and many people still have at least one phone connected into a socket in their home. 

There are 22 million conventional landlines in use in the UK, and they will face significant changes in the not-too-distant future. The network is transitioning to VoIP, and if you don’t have a suitable phone, you may find yourself in trouble.

When does the UK HAVE to move over to VoIP?

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is on the way, but you don’t have to jump on board just yet (even though we advise to!). However, in December 2025, there will be a technological shift, and traditional landline phones that use analogue technology will be phased out. 

The replacement will be a much better internet-based IP, or Internet Protocol, network, which will be much more future-proofed than the current system, which is based on the remnants of the UK’s antiquated copper wire network – though much of that has already been superseded by fibre optic cable, which VoIP takes advantage of.

Yealink T57W

Why is the UK moving to VoIP?

The improvement is, without a doubt, long needed. While you’ll be able to keep your landline if you want one, there will be plenty of VoIP-compatible landline phones to pick from which will make receiving calls significantly enhanced. The UK’s original telephone network is nearly a century old, and what we have now is a patchwork quilt of wiring that has been spruced up in some parts and completely replaced in others.

The phone and broadband firms have teamed up to devise a clever strategy that will see a completely revamped network launched in December 2025. The initiative is also monitored by the government and the telecoms regulator Ofcom. The good news is that you won’t have to do anything about the landline phone network update; your landline phone provider should take care of everything and notify you when it happens. 

While the network will change without you having to do anything, if your existing phone does not allow VoIP, you will need to purchase a new phone.

Keypad on phone

Will you be able to keep your number?

Although it’s impossible to say for sure, it appears like you’ll be able to keep your current landline number when the network switches to VoIP. If you’ve had the same phone number for a long time, this is great news. 

However, as we always say, your phone may need to be replaced, especially if you’ve owned it for as long as your phone number. However, anyone who has updated their landline handset in the recent few years may discover that it will work just fine when the time comes to upgrade.

A new phone can completely change the way you use it, especially with the latest models from Yealink and Mitel that use technology to make it easier to avoid annoying calls. In fact, a number of the phones we tested were able to completely block undesirable callers, so that’s money well spent right there. Even more so if you’re getting calls from scammers on a regular basis.

VoIP landline phones: What you need to know

The fact that VoIP landline phones are being rolled out now that many of us have broadband at home seems reasonable. This is because, in the future, you’ll be connecting your calls via the internet, rather than the ageing copper wire network. 

The call quality, which should be crisper and more audible, is one of the primary advantages. You will, of course, require a broadband connection for this to work, so if you haven’t already done so, contact your phone company.

Another thing to keep in mind about phones that rely on broadband, a router, and a power supply to work is that they rely on services being available online. As a result, if you lose electricity, you may be unable to make or receive calls. If you have a backup phone, this isn’t a problem, but if you don’t, it’s something to keep in mind so you know where you are in the event of an emergency.

Why are VoIP phones so good?

Another advantage of having a landline that uses VoIP to connect you is that it is a lot less expensive option to make calls. Of course, you may argue that you’ll need access to the internet, which you might not have had before. On the bright side, having access to the internet is so beneficial that we believe the advantages far exceed any disadvantages. 

While it may seem strange that someone today does not have access to the internet at home, we must acknowledge that not everyone wants it or, in some situations, wants it but is unable to obtain it. If that’s the case, you’re probably reading this on your smartphone right now.

But, returning to the cost issue, let’s face it: for many years, phone companies have done quite well by charging you for making calls, whether they are local, national, or international. If you have a lot of individuals you need to talk to on a regular basis, VoIP phones can save you a lot of money over time. 

Another advantage of utilising a VoIP phone is that it is far more robust than older phones that were connected using outdated technology and a network made up of a jumble of copper wire and fibre cables.

Water penetration is common on older phone lines, causing interference and frequently stopping your connection in its tracks. While VoIP technology isn’t infallible, it should make your phone connection less sensitive to external interruptions than before. 

That could save you money as well, because there’s a lower chance you’ll need to call in an engineer and deal with all the time and aggravation that entails.

VoIP phones typically offer more features and capability, so if you get one of the best landline phone models on the market today, you’ll find yourself with a veritable telecoms powerhouse on your sideboard. That, in the words of an old BT commercial campaign, should mean that it’s ‘nice to chat’ on it once more.

Summary

So as we know, traditional phone lines will be made redundant in 2025 for a new system to come into place. This system will be powered by internet based phones which will heavily involve VoIP. While the need for VoIP is already in demand due to the benefits the system has to offer, the price will increase nearer to 2025 we get.

At ATS Connection we are doing a price fix promise which will mean that for any business who signs up to our VoIP packages, they will not see a price increase due to the demand.

Get in touch

How can VoIP help grow your hotel?

Posted on by Jake Boase

Although VoIP systems have been rising in popularity for decades, many company and hotel owners have yet to adopt this new technology. Regrettably, the longer hoteliers wait, the further behind they will fall.

Consumers are accustomed to fast-paced technology; they do everything online or on their smartphones, and they demand the same level of service and innovation from the businesses they visit, including hotels. You can accelerate your business and attract new guests better than ever before if you can fulfil your clients’ growing needs. Here’s how VoIP can assist you.

Lower costs

Because VoIP phone systems share the same internet infrastructure as your regular internet service, you won’t have to pay two separate utility bills. Furthermore, because VoIP phones do not require the same hardware as traditional telephone lines, you can add or remove lines you aren’t using on the fly using your VoIP provider’s software interface. You don’t even need a physical handset; instead, you can create a new phone number and have it ring your manager’s mobile, so the additional cost is none.

VoIP also provides flexibility, which can help you save money. Long-distance calls are substantially cheaper than analogue calls to other countries since they are routed through the internet rather than the PSTN (which is slowly being switched off), which is a critical feature for many hotels with international guests. Paper faxing can be almost eliminated because VoIP systems can be effortlessly connected with your computer system.

receptionist on VoIP phone

Improved mobility

Face-to-face interaction with visitors is one of the most crucial components of hotel management, but your staff can’t provide the finest service if they’re chained to a desk. With a VoIP system, you may install software on a smartphone or tablet that connects to a Bluetooth headset, allowing your employees to wander freely and speak with customers without ever leaving their phones.

Even better, a phone call does not have to interrupt a conversation with a guest. With seamless forwarding, the employee who answers the phone may simply transfer the call to a less-busy employee, ensuring that your guests receive the attention they deserve.

Managers will benefit from the enhanced mobility as well. You may respond to issues that require your personal attention while keeping an eye on the hotel’s inner workings without missing a call because you can wander around freely. Best of all, no one needs to remember the manager’s mobile number; simply create a “manager” number in your VoIP system and arrange it to automatically forward based on who is working at the moment.

Advanced features

Because hotels generally operate on thin profit margins, anything you can do to increase efficiency is helpful. The advanced features of a VoIP phone system might be extremely beneficial in this regard.

Not only can you connect your phones to your computer system, enabling features like online check-in, automated wake-up calls, and personalised voicemail in each room. The more features like this you can add, the better your visitor experience will be and the more you’ll be able to expand.

receptionist on VoIP phone

“Using a VoIP phone system has been one of the best decisions I have made for my hotel”

Better productivity

Many tasks in a hotel’s day-to-day operations are repetitive and tedious to your employees, such as organising wake-up calls, printing room keys, and answering basic enquiries regarding restaurant hours. Many of these processes may be performed considerably more efficiently with a modern VoIP system and digital PBX.

This will allow your team to focus on the far more valuable work of providing good guest experiences. The cornerstone of any hotel stay is in-person engagement, but your workers won’t have time to talk to guests if they’re also working at a desk. Your staff will be more productive and satisfied with their work if they can wander around the hotel helping visitors in person, and your hotel will profit.

The benefits of VoIP

Posted on by Jake Boase

What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and is nearly identical in operation to a traditional PBX, but rather than using onsite hardware, calls are routed via the internet. It’s ideal for supporting your remote or hybrid workforce, where staff can take calls as if they were sat at their desk in the office. All without costly call forwarding to mobile phones.

Technology has come a long way in the last few years but the needs of businesses have come a long way too. Needing to stay connected to colleagues and consumers at all times wherever you may be in the world, the ability to offer a respectful customer service and to build your businesses up are all ways in which the demands of a business has increased.

How does VoIP work?

To put it simply, instead of having phone lines and wires VoIP replaces them with an internet connection. Converting your voice into data when you speak and converting back to voice on the receiving end, crystal clear with no delay.

Okay, so we know how it works, but how well does it work? VoIP has a 99% uptime and if the small chance of some downtime, your mobile phone app will still allow you to make and receive calls. To top this off, VoIP problems can be fixed remotely within a matter of minutes meaning no expensive call out charges for an engineer to attend the site, getting you back running as usual in no time.

Ultimately the choice between VoIP or onsite will come down to your business needs, but in almost every case, hosted VoIP will be a good fit. Here’s why:

Lower cost per call

VoIP is best known for how cheap it is to make a call. Those low costs are due to the fact that VoIP uses your existing internet connection. This goes for international calls as well as domestic. The only new charge you have to think about is the monthly price of the hosted VoIP service you use, your team members are free to make as many calls as they want to, to each other. Compare this to traditional landlines that require hardware like wires, installation and expensive phone bills!

Yealink T54W

Work from anywhere

With hybrid working expected to become the new normal for working practices once ‘stay at home’ advice is relaxed, businesses need staff to be able to communicate wherever they are located.

A phone solution like VoIP will likely come with an app that allows you to make calls on your mobile phone, laptop, and even tablet. This means you can work from anywhere with an internet connection. That way, even if you cannot see colleagues and clients in person, your team can operate at full capacity and productivity levels, even if you’re not physically together. And in many cases team members will be able to keep a single number, regardless of travel or moving from one workspace to another, easy!

Scale it up as you grow

The number of people in your business can go up or down, but scaling up or down accordingly isn’t that easy with a regular telephone system. You have to purchase a handset or a dedicated physical line, which gets expensive. This often results in the need to use clumsy workarounds, like sharing phone sets between users.

With VoIP, scalability is not only easily available, but is also good for keeping your costs low. All you have to do is ask your service provider to add more lines when your team is increasing or remove a line when someone moves on. At any given point of time, you’ll only be paying for what you are currently using.

In other words, VoIP systems can grow comfortably alongside your business, no matter what your size.

Man using a VoIP phone

“VoIP has transformed the way we can stay connected with out clients, anywhere at anytime.”

Packed with features

Calling is more fun with VoIP phone systems, because these phone systems are often accompanied by a variety of attractive features. Call waiting, call transferring, voice recognition, call forwarding, voicemail, caller ID, call blocking, automatic call distribution, etc. are just some of the many features that you may get to choose from, in your hosted VoIP service.

VoIP systems are feature-rich solutions that enable employees to operate as if they were in the office, even when they’re not. You can send voicemails to instant messaging or emails if the intended recipient isn’t available at the moment. It’s easy for organisations to centralise VoIP communication for better coordination. Other features include mobile integration, auto attendant, advanced call routing, conferencing, and call recording.

Integration with other softwares

Given the fact that VoIP is a technology based on the Internet, its integration with your normal business apps and software can be easily achieved.

You could combine VoIP with your email system, and be able to place calls through the email system itself or even with your CRM system, that way you can merge call records of a customer into the customer’s profile.

VoIP also works well with Microsoft Teams so that users can make and receive regular telephone calls either with their Teams app or with physical telephones.

You can schedule online meetings, chat to your co-workers and communicate easily between staff and customers. There are options to create a private or group chat whilst sharing files.

Increase productivity

The way VoIP works, the features it contains and the user friendliness of them allows for staff to become much more productive. Providing staff the ability to host virtual meetings, conduct international phone conferences at a small cost, attach important documents, share significant data through video conferencing and communicating with colleagues on a private chat software.

In recent years VoIP has really taken off quite significantly, especially in terms of voice clarity to the point that it can be clearer than your traditional phone line conversations. When VoIP first came to the market it was in need of some improvement: distorted calls, dropped calls and lagging transmissions to name a few. This is no longer the case and VoIP has now become one of the most popular ways of communication for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Reliable and ready for ISDN switch off

In 2025, the UK’s ISDN network will be turned off. This means traditional telephone lines are being switched off, and more businesses will need to move to VoIP, so now is the time to set up your business with a digital phone line.

For a more in-depth overview about the 2025 switch off, what it means for your business, and whether to make the switch earlier with a possible cost saving, read our ISDN switch off page.

To find out more about how VoIP can transform your business, speak to one of our experts, contact us here.

ISDN to SIP – what does it mean?

Posted on by Tobias Gillott

ISDN to SIP – what does it mean?

Traditionally, Integrated service digital network (ISDN) technology allowed inbound and outbound voice calls through a ‘digital’ line – through the internet. But SIP trunking is now replacing ISDN services, which means ISDN will slowly be phased out over the next 5 years. Why? Because it’s better technology. Think 5G replacing 4G, which replaced 3G in turn. Gradually, they are then phased out as new technology comes along. Not only is it better technology, it’s also cheaper, more flexible and can help business future-proof their telecommunications systems.

What is ISDN?

ISDN stands for integrated service digital network. It originally appeared back in the 80’s but is still widely used in businesses. It became popular due to the fact that it allowed the opportunity to transmit both voice and data over the same line.

ISDN is a digital line that runs through copper wiring. It was a lot faster than traditional analogue lines and could be used for data as well as carrying voice calls. The main issue with ISDN is that it relies on physical infrastructure, the copper lines, which can be costly to maintain. It also requires an additional private telephone network that is used within the company (also known as a private branch exchange or PBX).

In a nutshell, ISDN takes up space, is costly to maintain and cannot easily be fixed when things break.

Replacing ISDN with SIP trunking

Session Internet Protocol (SIP) trunking is the next-in-line future-ready solution to replace ISDN. It’s still a digital connection, ensuring calls are transmitted via the internet. However, it connects the PBX to the network via broadband, Ethernet or a private circuit. It enables you to make calls via the internet. (NB: SIP is also known as VoIP, which struggled to take off due to early signal issues and problems. Therefore, SIP came along as technology advanced, enabling more reliable and scalable communication options for businesses.)

The trunking part? Well, that is a tech-jargon for a system which provides network access to many people by sharing a set of lines. Think of a tree trunk with many branches running off it or a network with a central hub. A ‘trunk’ is one communications channel between one point and another, typically one being the central hub.

SIP enables businesses to mange their communications more easily and have a more reliable solution that is flexible to their business needs.

Why does my business need SIP?

The main reason you should switch to SIP, is because ISDN is on its way out. BT completely plan to phase out ISDN by 2025, with Internet Protocol (IP) calling seen as a much-preferred alternative. We highly, recommend getting yourselves into the modern world and upgrading your phone lines. But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s more reasons why you should be looking at moving from ISDN to SIP.

You’ll save money

One of the major benefits of upgrading to SIP is that you can see unprecedented savings on your call costs. SIP means running your calls via the internet, which takes out the need for physical infrastructure and therefore, maintenance. It is suggested that business can save up to 50% on their business calls on average.

What’s more, as your line is run through the internet, providers often give you inclusive minutes included within your monthly charge. You can make even more savings, the larger your business too.

You get flexibility

With SIP adding new lines is really simple – in fact, it can be done in less than a minute. Calls via the internet can help you to meet business demand and control where your calls go easily.

Setting up new offices or working remotely is a lot easier as there’s no need for installing new lines. It also enables a business to keep their existing numbers, even when they move locations.

SIP trunking is scalable, which means it can be grown with your business really easily.

You get more reliability

When traditional ISDN connections go down, it can be timely and difficult to fix. Your business can be out of action for hours, if not days. Business continuity is reliant upon maintain connections.

With SIP trunking you get a new level of resilience. Your calls can be diverted to a different line or redirected to another office. It also enables calls to be redirected to mobiles too, which can be great for remote workers or employees out for meetings.

Stepping towards SIP

Switching lines can be met with resistance. Particularly, because traditionally switching can cause disruptions within a business.

However, your switch to SIP can be flexible. You can switch in one move or phase the transition by each site, office or even floor. One of the best benefits is that SIP can actually work alongside ISDN so there’s no need to worry about down time.

In fact, there’s little disturbance to your business activities, if any. Testing and checks can be carried out in a controlled environment too.

With the removal of ISDN there is no good reason to continue using old phone lines. Especially, when you can save money, get more reliability and have calls that can meet your business demand.

For more information about making the transition from ISDN to SIP trunking, contact our team at ATS Connection today on 01903 357002  today or get in touch.  

ISDN Switch Off: The Deadline Is Now January 2027

Posted on by Jake Boase

This page has been updated. The ISDN switch off did not complete in December 2025. Openreach extended the deadline, and the analogue network now shuts down permanently on 31 January 2027.

For the current position, including the 2026 price rises on legacy lines and what happens to alarms, lifts and card machines, read our full guide: The Big Switch Off: what the January 2027 landline shutdown means for your business.

What is ISDN?

ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. It is a digital line that runs over copper wiring, and it was considerably faster than the traditional analogue lines that came before it, carrying both data and voice calls. Its weakness is that it depends entirely on physical copper infrastructure, which is expensive to maintain and increasingly difficult to repair.

Why the date moved

Openreach announced back in 2015 that it would stop selling ISDN in 2020 and switch the network off in 2025. The stop sell happened as planned in September 2023, and no new ISDN or analogue lines have been available since.

The final shutdown, however, was pushed back. In 2024 the deadline moved from December 2025 to 31 January 2027, largely to allow more time to migrate vulnerable users and telecare devices safely. That extension is the reason this page needed rewriting.

The new date is fixed. Openreach has been clear it will not move again, and exchanges are already being migrated in phases, so many businesses will lose analogue service before January 2027 rather than on the day itself.

What to do if you still have an ISDN line

You need to migrate to a digital service, which in practice means VoIP. Your existing numbers can be ported across, so nothing changes for your customers.

Two things are worth knowing. First, VoIP depends on your internet connection, so if your broadband is also running over the old copper network it makes sense to upgrade both together. Second, it is not only phones that are affected. Alarm panels, lift emergency lines, door entry systems and older card terminals all commonly sit on analogue lines and need their own migration path.

Legacy line rental is also rising steeply through 2026 in three separate wholesale increases, so staying on copper is now the expensive option as well as the one with a deadline attached.

Get help before the deadline

We migrate businesses across West Sussex from ageing ISDN and analogue setups onto modern hosted phone systems, handling the audit, the number porting and the connectivity as one project.

Call 01903 255 159 or read the full Big Switch Off guide to see what applies to you.

Is VoIP a viable alternative to your business telephone system?

Posted on by Jake Boase

VoIP phones use voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology to deliver an internet based telephone service.

Calls are delivered over the internet rather than the traditional legacy technology of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). Both the PSTN and ISDN networks are set to be decommissioned shortly.

Due to the reduced infrastructure needed to deliver phone calls on VoIP technology, voice calls can be provided at a very low cost.

VoIP services also use the internet to deliver phone system functionality to the end user. Many new features and useful services are available to small/medium businesses that were previously unaffordable to SME budgets. These include voicemail-to-email, call recording, instant messages, international calling, music-on-hold and call diverts.

While VoIP is not a new technology, it has fast become the standard for business telephony and communication, fast outpacing the growth of ISDN and ‘traditional’ PBXs and on-the-wall telephone systems.

What is VOIP?

A great place to start is to look at VoIP itself, and how it can replace your phone system. VoIP stands for Voice Over IP. VoIP is a method of communication that uses data packets and your broadband connection; as opposed to an analogue line or ISDN circuit. 

Hosted VoIP phone systems can dramatically reduce your costs by removing or reducing things like:

  • Telephone system maintenance
  • Call charges
  • Multiple telephone lines
  • Cost of spares and repairs
  • System installation costs
  • System upgrades

There are many reasons to upgrade to VoIP. Perhaps the main reason would be the cost savings it can result in for all businesses. VoIP can massively reduce a businesses running cost by removing maintenance, installation and costly equipment.

Another reason why many businesses choose to upgrade is the better call quality. Because it uses packet data rather than analogue lines, VoIP is often much higher quality when compared to traditional ISDN and telephone systems.

The third main reason is the flexibility of VoIP. Traditionally, if you wanted to add another phone to your telephone system, then you would need to potentially upgrade your entire system and get in a new line from BT which comes at a high cost. However, VOIP allows you to just add another licence – and therefore a handset. You can even use a mobile app for further flexibility and mobility.

Do I need a VoIP phone?

Openreach is intending to stop providing PSTN and ISDN phone lines completely in the UK by 2025.

This is because the existing telephone service infrastructure is dated and expensive to maintain. As a result, making the switch a VoIP phone system and internet telephony should be a priority for every business regardless of size or what the business does.

VoIP is a method of communication taking the market by storm.

To find out more on VoIP then give our specialist VoIP team a call on 01903 357002 or visit our VoIP page for more information on prices.

Staying safe while working from home

Posted on by Jake Boase

Security at work has always been essential in every business, especially when it comes to staying safe online, but how does that work now that many of us are working remotely?

Unfortunately, the freedom of working from home, or anywhere outside of the office, does increase the need to be vigilant around cyber security. This doesn’t mean that you can’t work as safely as when you were in the office – you just need the right solutions in place.

A modern hosted phone system, like eve, can offer enhanced security and peace of mind, by protecting users from fraudulent activity. Exceptional Call Protection is a key feature of eve, which monitors your call patterns and volumes to scan for any particular high-risk categories, such as premium rate calls. It is even possible for eve to block any outbound calls, if suspicious activity is detected.

Using a solution like eve will provide the reassurance you need to relax, safe in the knowledge that your business is protected, no matter where your staff are located.

Take a look at this feature in more detail, here.

Dealing with an influx of calls

Posted on by Jake Boase

COVID-19 restrictions have resulted in many businesses experiencing an influx of inbound calls. Whether it’s rearranging bookings, making appointments, or general customer support requests, keeping your customers happy is essential. 

Call Queue

My call queuing feature means callers can be placed in a queue in the event that all of your team are busy. You can enable comfort messaging, music, or even allow them to automatically request a call back.

Automatic Call Distribution

Evenly distribute calls to queues, bespoke recordings or specific team members. Directing calls to the right person means that the customer experience is as smooth as possible and that queries are dealt with in the most efficient manner. 

Music/Marketing-on-Hold

Use the time while your customers wait to tell them about your new products or services, invite them to events or even just reassure them that their call will be answered soon. You can also have a message to announce what place the caller is in the queue and the average wait time for their call to be answered.

Voicemail

It is always hoped that all calls can be answered, but in the instance where it’s not possible, a voicemail should be used to maintain professionalism. 

Call Recording

It’s important that you keep a record of calls. These can be used for enhancing customer service and for training purposes, as well as to refer back to, if a dispute were ever to happen.

Ensuring that you maintain exceptional customer service during these times is crucial. If you’d like to find out more about setting up your phone system for the best service, email us info@atsconnection.co.uk

Top tips on keeping motivated while working from home

Posted on by Jake Boase

First of all, it’s fundamental that you have the right internet connection. Most businesses depend on the internet to operate, so think about what would happen to productivity if your connection couldn’t cope with what you’re trying to achieve. 

Ensuring seamless communication with your colleagues and customers is also essential when working from home. Just because you’re unable to physically be in a room with your colleagues, it doesn’t mean you should have to stop communicating. Software that has instant messaging capabilities, as well as access to a full list of your team members, can help you get quick answers, just as you could face to face. 

Keeping track of all communication you have with customers is important and this should not slip off the radar when working away from the office. CRM Integration can mean that any calls made from mobiles/softphones can be logged within the CRM with ease, just as they would in the office. eve offers CRM Integration that can enable you to maintain quality customer service, from wherever you need to work. 

Separating working from your home life is essential. Wherever possible, be sure to work from a separate room, rather than one you associate with relaxing, to ensure your brain is not tempted to confuse the two.

If you’d like to find out more about how eve can enable you to work from home, email info@atsconnections.co.uk