Old Telephone Line Switch Off - Our Advice
3rd October 2023
Openreach are stopping the supply of analogue and digital services over copper cables from December 2025.
This will affect analogue and ISDN lines which may be a single telephone or connected to telephone system. Additionally it could also affect broadband connectivity, fax machines, Redcare, intruder or fire alarm systems, sale terminals and lift lines.
There is currently a lot of scaremongering regarding the copper shut down and you have probably received calls from BT, BT Local Business, Openreach or any other provider already - as well as many emails, please do not be alarmed we are here to advise you.
Here at Bowker IT we have been on the end of the phone calls and emails as well as you may have trying to force us to commit to new services from various suppliers. Amazing really that they can offer this when they don't actually know what services you have or need.
If you have any of the following, or are unsure and need advice then please ask because we are here to help. We can usually tell simply from your latest telephone line bill(s).
• Analogue Phone Line
• ISDN2 Phone Lines
• ISDN30 Phone Lines
• Redcare
• Broadband (anything other than the fibre type)
• Lift Lines
By the end of 2025, Openreach plan to shutdown the copper network that supplies analogue telephones and ISDN. These services are no longer being sold. For that reason they are now installing fibre services instead which will take sometime however this work is planned and it is easy to find out when your area is due to be upgraded.
What does this mean for you?
Quite simply your voice calling via a single phone or phone system now have to be migrate to SIP trunks. You may or may not have heard of these but they send your voice calls over an existing or new Internet connection. Usually SIP will represent a cost saving in ongoing call charges with bundled minutes much like a mobile phone contract.
You will also need to consider your Redcare, if you have it, and replace it with a new signalling device. Many of our clients have already been offered these but at prices we were shocked at.
It may also mean you need to check your existing Internet connection or provider can support SIP and maybe consider upgrading your connection.
What do you need to do?
Contact us to help you check that you are going to have time to make any changes and also ensure they are the right changes. Please remember your current supplier will not just cut you off, they have to provide you with an alternate means, however they will use this as a sales ploy.
Please speak to us first and we will let you know exactly where you stand and what you have to do by when.
