The Big Switch Off 2025

In 2025 the last elements of Openreach’s analogue and digital ISDN copper network will be turned off as an all-IP network replaces these legacy services. The impact on telephony and broadband services is far reaching so you need to know how it will impact you.

On 5th Sept 2023 Openreach implemented a ‘National Stop Sell’ on all UK exchanges meaning you can no longer order any new services that use the PSTN network – talk to us today to understand your options to get ahead of The Big Switch Off!

What services are affected? 

Anything currently using a copper line! Simply put, every single Openreach service utilising copper lines will be affected. The most apparent services are analogue telephone lines (PSTN) and digital lines (ISDN) but it’s not just about telephone services. Any service that uses this infrastructure will also be impacted including:

  • Analogue voice telephone services

  • Dial up devices, fax, alarm systems, modem, building management systems, lift lines, PDQ machines

  • ISDN 2e and ISDN 30e lines

  • Broadband services that run over an analogue line e.g. ASDL & FTTC Fibre Broadband

What is happening and when?

On the 5th September 2023, the National Stop Sell came into effect. Services now classified as legacy can no longer be ordered and all services in place have effectively been frozen.

With a few exceptions you are now no longer able to alter your current service or switch to another provider without upgrading to a “future-proofed” service. So that means no new lines, analogue line to analogue line migrations, or expansions of services will be available on any analogue line and no switching your broadband service as-is to another provider.

We will still be able to offer the following:

  • Add or remove Select Service calling features to analogue or ISDN

  • Amend service maintenance levels e.g. SL2 to SL3

  • Amend Dynamic Line Management (DLM) settings on SMPF broadband

  • Migration from analogue based-services to futureproofed offerings e.g. FTTC Fibre Broadband to SOGEA Broadband

The project completion is scheduled for December 2025 as the last exchanges reach their full fibre capability and remaining services are withdrawn

From 2026 it’s all-IP or nothing.

Our mission

  • Spitfire will ensure that our customers are fully aware of the impact of the WLR switch off

  • We will offer a choice of technologies to ensure every customer has a suitable service for the future for both connectivity and telephony

  • We will ensure that every customer migrates to the new services as smoothly as possible

  • We will keep our customers informed of the elements of the project that impact them so they can make unrushed, informed decisions

Keep me informed

If you would like to keep up to date with the latest information, please complete our contact form below:

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So what are the alternatives?

In order to turn off analogue services, new technologies are being phased in. At the point of Stop sell exchanges will typically provide full fibre coverage enabling a new product portfolio which includes:

  • Fibre to the Premise (FTTP): providing internet connectivity and IP telephony capability

  • SOGEA: Fibre connectivity using the existing copper line but with no analogue telephony capability

  • IP telephony: this has of course been available for years but will need to 100% replace the PSTN and ISDN Public telephony networks

  • Redcare NGP product range: This replaces legacy products reliant on PSTN connections with IP and mobile connected equivalents.

  • FireSwitch Hosted PBX 2.2

Traditional Telephony

VoIP using SIP Trunks

VoIP using Cloud Hosted PBX

SOGEA Fibre Broadband

The Great Migration is the largest herd movement of animals on the planet involving an astonishing 1.5 million Blue Wildebeest.

Get ahead of the Great Migration to IP Telephony with Spitfire’s products and solutions.

The Great Migration is the largest herd movement of animals on the planet involving an astonishing 1.5 million Blue Wildebeest.

Get ahead of the Great Migration to IP Telephony with Spitfire’s products and solutions.

The Great Migration is the largest herd movement of animals on the planet involving an astonishing 1.5 million Blue Wildebeest.

Get ahead of the Great Migration to IP Telephony with Spitfire’s products and solutions.