The Big Switch-Off Is Coming: What UK Businesses Need to Know in 2026
The clock is officially ticking: the UK’s all‑IP transition is entering its final stretch, and businesses across the country need to be ready.
12 Months Until the All-IP Deadline
We’re now in the last year before the national switch‑off of legacy phone services — a major step in the UK’s move away from copper-based networks. By this time next year, every remaining PSTN line must be replaced with a digital alternative such as full fibre or SoGEA. Existing phone numbers will also need to be ported away to IP voice solutions.
It’s a once‑in‑a-generation shift affecting broadband, telephony, alarms, payment terminals, lift lines, and anything else still hanging onto old copper infrastructure. And despite the word “fibre” appearing in FTTC, remember: FTTC is not future‑proof — it still relies on copper and will be subject to withdrawal and changing contract terms starting January 2026
Take action now, Why? Too protect your business, your customers, and your reputation!
How? Talk to our Tech Team on 0117 200 1000 or Let our Technical and Sales teams call you: – Contact us
Why This Matters Now
Openreach has already begun tightening the screws:
- From January 2026, any business still on ADSL or FTTC will be moved onto rolling 90‑day contracts, creating uncertainty and leaving you exposed to sudden price hikes.
- Analogue line costs continue to rise sharply as the industry pushes the final wave of migration.
- Demand for engineer resources is increasing, and lead times are already starting to stretch.
The message is loud and clear: acting early protects your business from disruption, surprise costs, and last‑minute scrambles.
Three Key Things to Keep in Mind
1. Act Soon — Really Soon
Engineer availability is tightening nationwide as millions of lines still need to be converted. Service levels are dipping and wait times are growing. Getting ahead of the rush means smoother installs and fewer headaches.
2. Expect Copper Costs to Rise
As Openreach winds down its PSTN platform, analogue services will become increasingly expensive, with significant price increases already confirmed.
3. EC Computers Can Handle the Move
Switching doesn’t need to be disruptive. We can migrate you to full fibre or SoGEA quickly and with minimal hassle — often with no changes to your public IP addresses or usernames, keeping downtime to a minimum.
What UK Businesses Should Do Next
Check what you currently use
If you’re still running on:
- PSTN phone lines
- ADSL
- FTTC
- Legacy alarm/door entry/EPOS/modem-based systems
…you’ll need to plan your upgrade now.
Book your migration window early
With 4.7 million copper lines still active across the UK, installation queues will only get longer throughout 2026.
Move to full fibre where possible
Full fibre offers faster speeds, better stability, and — most importantly — long-term viability beyond the switch-off. SoGEA remains a good alternative where fibre isn’t yet available.
We’re Here to Help You Future‑Proof
This is a perfect opportunity to strengthen your connectivity, improve reliability, and modernise any ageing systems still tied to the old copper network.
If you’re unsure what services you currently have, whether you’re affected, or what your upgrade options look like — just reach out. We’ll review your situation, check availability, and guide you through the simplest, most cost‑effective path forward.
2026 is the year the UK says goodbye to copper. Let’s make sure your business is ready for the future — not scrambling in the final weeks.
For further information on all our service enhancements, you are welcome to check out our full list of services and related information on our website: eccomputers.co.uk