Openreach has cautioned that many thousands of companies and residents risk losing phone service continuity unless they transition from legacy copper lines by January 2027. In a letter sent to telecom providers marked with urgency, the infrastructure operator has ruled out any delay to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) shutdown.

This letter serves as confirmation that the January 2027 deadline will not be moved.

Openreach

Openreach is pressing providers to reach out to customers still reliant on older telephone infrastructure and complete their migration before the clock runs out. Those failing to switch risk either losing phone access entirely or being placed onto Emergency Voice Access (EVAc), a stopgap offering that delivers only basic calling functionality.

The company flagged serious limitations with the temporary service. According to the letter, "While EVAc will provide a temporary safeguarding service for basic voice connections, it is not built to support the connectivity needs of a modern business." Shifting from this interim arrangement to a lasting digital service could trigger additional expenses and preventable service interruptions.

Postponing the changeover until the final hours poses mounting risks. As the deadline draws near, securing engineering appointments will become increasingly difficult, and organisations that procrastinate face the prospect of major operational disruption alongside substantial avoidable expenditure.

Businesses that delay the move risk significant disruption, operational challenges and significant unnecessary costs. And with the industry entering the final phase of migration, waiting too long could also make it harder to secure the engineering support needed before the deadline.

Openreach

Customers staying on legacy systems are also experiencing mounting financial pressure. Openreach implemented wholesale price adjustments on 1 October 2026 that have roughly doubled the rental charges for traditional lines relative to 2025 levels, with another increase scheduled for 1 February.

The January 2027 deadline is approaching. Every delayed migration increases risk, complexity, and avoidable cost. However, every customer migrated today means one less organisation left exposed to this. Time is running out – the PSTN migration is now a critical priority. The window for a managed and orderly transition is closing, and providers who haven't already taken action need to immediately do so to mitigate risk and protect their customers.

Openreach