Openreach, the network operator owned by BT Group, has issued a stark warning: fewer than 100 days remain before the UK's analogue phone network is permanently switched off on 31 January 2027. The company says roughly one million copper-based lines are still in use, including 300,000 at business premises. Failure to migrate these systems to digital alternatives, it argues, poses severe operational, safety, and compliance risks.
The impact extends far beyond traditional home phones. Card payment terminals, lift emergency phones, fire alarm panels, security systems, and door entry units all rely on the analogue network. If they are not moved to digital services in time, they could simply stop working.
James Lilley, Openreach's director of All-IP, urged businesses to act now. "Businesses and organisations that delay action are making things harder for themselves," he said. "We are urging businesses to act now, audit their remaining analogue services, and work with their communications provider on a migration plan today."
Costs rise for those who wait
Openreach doubled rental prices for legacy lines on 1 October, with further increases planned from February. Customers who have not switched by the deadline may be moved automatically to a temporary, last-resort service that allows only essential calls. The company said this would be significantly more expensive than digital alternatives.
Households that want to keep a landline will not lose it. Instead, the phone will plug into a broadband router and work over the internet. The number of people with a phone line but no broadband is shrinking, according to the UK regulator Ofcom. BT raised line rental for its landline-only customers by £1 (€1.20) a month from 31 March this year, with a guarantee of no further increases for 12 months, while call charges remained the same. Ofcom said it would monitor BT's prices for these customers.
Many people have already given up the landline altogether. Ofcom found that just over a million households switched to a broadband-only service in the year ending in July 2025.
Europe's broader copper phase-out
The UK's switch-off is part of a wider European trend. Norway and Spain have already shut down their copper networks, and the EU wants to make it mandatory everywhere by 31 December 2035, with only limited exceptions. Member states would have to submit national plans by 2029 to phase out copper between 2030 and 2035, with safeguards including clear communication about switch-off dates and service continuity.
This digital transition is not without its challenges. As businesses across the continent adapt, they may also face other regulatory pressures, such as the EU's efforts to de-risk from China, which could add to operational costs. Meanwhile, the push for digital infrastructure is paralleled by other tech policy debates, like the Dutch bill targeting addictive design in online platforms.
For UK businesses, the message is clear: the clock is ticking. Those that have not yet audited their analogue services should do so immediately and work with their communications provider on a migration plan. The cost of inaction is not just financial—it could disrupt critical services and compromise safety.
As the deadline approaches, the focus will be on ensuring a smooth transition. The experience of Norway and Spain, which have already completed their copper shutdowns, offers lessons in managing the process. But for now, the onus is on individual businesses to act before the analogue network fades into history.
