The UK landline switch-off: what Devon businesses need to check now

For decades, most business phone lines in the UK have run over the old copper telephone network. That network is being switched off. Phone and broadband providers are moving everyone onto digital lines that carry calls over an internet connection, and the old network is due to close on 31 January 2027. If your business in Okehampton, Exeter or anywhere else in Devon still relies on a traditional landline, now is the time to check what will be affected and plan the move.

This guide covers what the switch-off means in plain English, the equipment people often forget about, and how to move to a business VoIP phone system without losing the number your customers already know.

What is the landline switch-off?

The old analogue phone network (often called PSTN) and the related ISDN lines many offices use are being retired. Calls will instead run over a broadband connection using Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP. For many people the change happens quietly: their provider moves them onto a digital line and they plug the phone into the router instead of the wall socket.

For businesses it’s rarely that simple. Offices often have several lines, a phone system on the wall, and other equipment that quietly uses a phone line in the background. If that equipment hasn’t been checked, it can stop working without warning when the line is moved over.

What equipment could be affected?

Walk around your premises and make a list of anything plugged into a phone socket or that “dials out”. Common examples include:

• Phone systems and handsets. Older office phone systems that connect to analogue or ISDN lines may need replacing or reconfiguring.
• Intruder and fire alarms. Many alarm panels use a phone line to call a monitoring centre. Ask your alarm company whether yours is compatible with digital lines.
• Card payment terminals. Older terminals that dial out over a phone line may need switching to broadband or mobile data.
• Lift emergency phones and door entry systems. These are easy to forget and important to get right.
• Fax machines and franking machines. Some still rely on an analogue line.
• Telecare devices. If your business looks after vulnerable people, check any pendant alarms or care alerts with the supplier.

For each item, note who supplies it and contact them to ask whether it will keep working on a digital line. Most suppliers have a standard answer by now.

Why moving to VoIP makes sense for most small businesses

You could simply let your provider swap your line for a digital one and carry on. But the switch-off is also a good moment to ask whether your phones are really working for you. A hosted VoIP system (sometimes called a cloud phone system) runs online, so there is no phone system box in the office to buy or maintain.

Answer calls anywhere

With VoIP your business number isn’t tied to a desk. Staff can answer calls on a desk phone, a mobile app or a laptop, which is ideal if you work between the office, home and customer sites across Devon.

Simple, predictable pricing

Our business VoIP phone systems start from £10 per user per month, priced per member of staff, with unlimited UK calls included on each line. As your team grows or shrinks, you add or remove users rather than paying for capacity you don’t need.

Useful features as standard

Voicemail and call routing mean calls reach the right person, or go to voicemail when nobody is free, instead of ringing out. That matters when you’re a small team and every missed call could be a missed customer.

Can I keep my existing phone number?

In most cases, yes. Your existing business number can usually be moved (or “ported”) to your new VoIP system, so customers keep calling the number they already know. It’s worth checking your number before you switch, because the details on your current account need to match the porting request. We can check this for you as part of planning the move.

Don’t forget your internet connection

Once your calls run over the internet, your broadband connection and office network matter more than ever. A slow or unreliable connection, or Wi-Fi that drops out in parts of the building, will show up as poor call quality. Before switching, it’s sensible to check:

• That your broadband is reliable and has enough upload speed for the number of people on calls at once.
• That your router and network equipment are up to date.
• Whether you need a backup plan if the connection goes down, such as forwarding calls to mobiles.

Because we also provide business broadband, we can look at the whole picture and fix connection problems before they affect your calls.

A simple plan for the switch-off

• List everything that uses a phone line, including alarms, card machines and lift phones.
• Contact each supplier to confirm compatibility with digital lines.
• Check your broadband and office network can handle voice calls.
• Choose your phone setup: desk phones, mobile apps or a mix.
• Check your number can be ported and agree a switch-over date that suits your business.
• Test everything on the day, including calls in and out, voicemail and any alarms.

Leaving it until the last minute risks being moved onto a digital line before you’re ready. Planning now means you choose the timing and the system, rather than having it chosen for you.

Talk to a local team about your phones

iTechmonster is an Okehampton-based IT company that has been supporting businesses across Devon since 2017. We set up and support VoIP phone systems as part of looking after your wider IT, so you deal with one local team for your phones, broadband and computers.

If you’re not sure what the switch-off means for your business, get in touch or call us on 01837 357034. We’ll check what you have and recommend a sensible next step, with no obligation.