Out with the old, in with the new.

‘Stop sell’ will mark the end of an era for technology that has been central to the UK’s telecoms infrastructure for decades. Openreach’s long road towards completely switching off their old copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) in 2027 hit a major milestone in September 2023. In full fibre areas, Openreach will stop selling phone and broadband services that use the old copper network to suppliers. This is all part of Openreach’s plan to move the UK to full fibre by 2027.

So, what does stop sell mean for you as a small business?

• In most circumstances, you will not be able to get a new contract for a phone or broadband service using the old copper network. If you decide to switch provider or upgrade your current services, you will only be able to take services on the new network.

• You won’t be able add any new phone lines, or additional channels, to any existing copped-based PSTN services. You will need to get a new digital phone line. Something to bear in mind if you’re moving premises.

• Changes to copper-based PSTN services will be mainly stopped. For example, you won’t be able to add broadband to a phone line or change your broadband speed. However, you can still add certain network features to your line such as voice mail.

• You can keep your existing phone number. As a small business owner, you will want to keep your number, especially if you’ve had it a long time and your customers are familiar with it.

What should you do if you’re affected by Openreach’s stop sell?

First things first, don’t panic!

Everyone in the UK will be making the switch to digital based solutions, so we’re all in this together. The rollout of full fibre will transform business communications across the UK and it’s expected to boost productivity by £59 billion every year.

If your business is still using copper-based, it’s worth plugging in to other options for your business communications. These options include voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and fibre to the premises (FTTP).

Ready to upgrade to a digital service?

Did you know that 42% of SMEs are still using analogue PSTN and ISDN lines to support their digital solutions? Businesses should start preparing and switch to digital now to future-proof connectivity. Here are a few steps to help you ensure a smooth transition when switching over.

1. Start off by looking at your current connectivity and telecoms set up. 

Identify everything that currently uses the copper-based telephone line. It’s not just your phone line and broadband that will be affected by the switch off. The following technology may also be affected with the transition:

Check with your suppliers and plan for their replacement to minimise operational impact when the PSTN is switched off.

2. It’s important to have a plan for installation and set-up.

Once everything is in place, you can enjoy the many benefits of upgrading your communications service.

3. Switch to digital now to future-proof connectivity

Let’s chat. Get in touch with our team today and find out how your business can future-proof its connectivity. Just click on the speech bubble at the bottom of the screen. Simple.

You can also find out more about our range of Business telecoms services including digital voice, mobile and broadband.