The way businesses make and receive phone calls in the UK is changing.

The traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which has carried telephone calls across the UK for decades, is being retired. The current deadline for the PSTN switch off 2027 is 31 January 2027. As the PSTN switch off 2027 date approaches, businesses must prepare for this significant change.

For businesses still using traditional analogue telephone lines, ISDN services or other services dependent on the old network, now is the time to prepare.

With the PSTN switch off 2027 on the horizon, it is vital for businesses to understand the implications and plan accordingly.

The good news is that moving away from PSTN does not mean giving up the telephone numbers your customers already know.

Airbytes can help you move your existing numbers to VoIP — with FREE number porting and your first three months of Hosted VoIP completely FREE, regardless of how many users, seats or extensions your business requires.

What is the PSTN switch-off?

PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. It is the traditional telephone network that has supported UK landline services for generations.

The technology is now reaching the end of its operational life and is being replaced by modern, IP-based communications.

BT Group plans to retire the PSTN by 31 January 2027, with businesses and consumers moving towards digital telephone services that operate using Internet Protocol technology.

The PSTN switch off 2027 will impact how businesses communicate, so transitioning to a suitable alternative is essential.

In practical terms, traditional telephone services that depend on the old PSTN infrastructure need to be migrated to an alternative before the switch-off.

Understanding the PSTN switch off 2027 is crucial for effective migration planning.

For most businesses, that alternative is VoIP — Voice over Internet Protocol.

What is VoIP?

VoIP allows telephone calls to be made and received over an internet connection rather than relying on a traditional analogue telephone line.

But moving to VoIP is about much more than simply replacing the technology behind your telephone.

A modern Hosted VoIP system can give your business access to features such as:

• • Existing business number retention
  • Multiple users and extensions
  • Desktop and mobile applications
  • Desk phone support
  • Call forwarding
  • Call queues
  • Ring groups
  • Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
  • Voicemail to email
  • Call recording
  • Business hours and time-based routing
  • Direct Dial numbers
  • Call reporting
  • Remote and hybrid working
  • Multiple offices operating from the same telephone system

This is especially important as we approach the PSTN switch off 2027.

Your business telephone number is no longer tied to a telephone socket in one building.

Employees can make and receive business calls from the office, from home or while travelling, while customers continue calling the same business numbers they already know.

Keep Your Existing Telephone Numbers

One of the biggest concerns we hear from businesses preparing for the PSTN switch-off is:

“Will we lose our existing telephone numbers?”

In most cases, the answer is no.

Airbytes can port eligible existing UK telephone numbers from your current provider onto our VoIP network.

This means you can modernise your telephone system while continuing to use the numbers that may already appear on your:

The upcoming PSTN switch off 2027 means you must act quickly to ensure a smooth transition.

• Website
• Google Business Profile
• Business cards
• Vehicles
• Advertising
• Contracts and documentation
• Customer databases
• Supplier records

Changing a long-established business telephone number can create unnecessary disruption.

With the PSTN switch off 2027 deadline approaching, it’s important to avoid delays in your migration process.

Porting allows you to change the technology and provider behind the number while keeping the number itself.

And with Airbytes, number porting is FREE.

There is no reason to wait until January 2027 and risk a last-minute migration.

Move to Airbytes and Get Your First 3 Months FREE

To help UK businesses prepare for the PSTN switch-off, Airbytes is making the transition even easier.

Port your existing telephone numbers to Airbytes and receive:

FREE number porting

and

Your first THREE MONTHS of Airbytes Hosted VoIP FREE.

And when we say three months free, we are not limiting the offer to a small telephone system.

Whether your business needs:

1 user, 5 users, 20 users, 50 users or more — your first three months of Hosted VoIP are free.

There is no limit based on the number of users, seats or extensions your organisation requires during the promotional period.

That makes this an ideal opportunity to migrate your telephone system, configure your users and departments, and start experiencing a modern cloud-based communications platform before the PSTN switch-off.

Don’t Leave Your Migration Until January 2027

Although 31 January 2027 is the retirement deadline, businesses should not treat it as the date to begin planning their migration.

Telephone number porting requires coordination between providers, and more complex installations may require additional planning.

For example, your business might have:

• • Several telephone numbers
  • Multiple sites

The support for traditional lines will cease with the PSTN switch off 2027, making timely migration crucial.

• Existing ISDN services
• Hunt groups
• Fax services
• Alarm systems
• Lift emergency phones
• Door entry systems
• Payment terminals
• Modems or other equipment connected to an analogue line

Some equipment designed specifically for traditional telephone lines may not operate correctly over an IP-based service.

Businesses must adapt their systems before the PSTN switch off 2027 to ensure uninterrupted service.

These services should therefore be identified and checked before your existing PSTN services are ceased.

Starting early gives your business time to migrate properly rather than having to make an urgent decision as the switch-off approaches.

We Can Help Plan the Migration

Moving to VoIP does not have to mean replacing everything overnight.

Our team can work with you to understand your existing telephone setup, identify the numbers you want to retain and build a Hosted VoIP configuration around the way your organisation actually operates.

We can help with:

Number porting
Transfer your existing eligible business telephone numbers to Airbytes.

Extensions and users
Create individual extensions for employees, departments or locations.

Call routing
Decide where calls should go during business hours, outside business hours or when users are unavailable.

The upcoming PSTN switch off 2027 necessitates careful planning to minimise disruption.

IVR and call menus
Route callers automatically to Sales, Support, Accounts or other departments.

Call queues and ring groups
Allow incoming calls to reach the right team instead of relying on a single telephone.

Remote working
Allow employees to use their business extension from supported desk phones, computers or mobile devices.

Migration planning
Coordinate the move from your current provider while minimising disruption to your business.

Already Using VoIP? You Can Still Move Your Numbers

The PSTN switch-off is also a good opportunity to review an existing VoIP service.

If you have already moved away from analogue telephone lines but are unhappy with your current VoIP provider, you don’t necessarily need to change your telephone numbers.

Airbytes can port eligible numbers from other providers too.

You can keep your established numbers while moving your Hosted VoIP service to Airbytes.

Preparing for the PSTN switch off 2027 is not just a recommendation; it is essential for continued operation.

What About Your Broadband?

VoIP works over an internet connection, so having reliable connectivity becomes increasingly important once your telephone service moves online.

Airbytes is not only a VoIP provider.

As a UK telecommunications provider, we can also help businesses with business broadband, Full Fibre connectivity, leased lines and other connectivity services, allowing us to look at both sides of your communications infrastructure.

You don’t necessarily need to use Airbytes for your internet connection to use our Hosted VoIP service, but if you want one provider to help manage both connectivity and telephony, we can help with that too.

January 2027 Is Closer Than It Sounds

PSTN Switch Off 2027: What You Need to Know

The PSTN has been part of UK telecommunications for generations, but its retirement is now approaching quickly.

As we approach the PSTN switch off 2027, organisations must prioritise their telecommunications strategy.

If your organisation still relies on a traditional telephone line, the important thing is not to panic — but also not to leave the migration until the last minute.

Moving to VoIP gives your business an opportunity to do more than simply replace an old telephone line.

Don’t underestimate the impact of the PSTN switch off 2027 on your business operations.

You can keep your existing business numbers while introducing a telephone system designed for the way businesses operate today.

Make the Switch with Airbytes

Keep your existing telephone numbers.

Port them to Airbytes for FREE.

Get your first THREE MONTHS of Hosted VoIP FREE — regardless of how many users, seats or extensions you need.

Act now to prepare for the PSTN switch off 2027 and ensure smooth operations moving forward.

And most importantly, make the move before the PSTN is retired on 31 January 2027.

Being proactive about the PSTN switch off 2027 can save you from potential issues later.

Ready to start your migration?

Talk to the Airbytes team today and we’ll help you review your current telephone setup, check your number portability and plan your move to VoIP.

Let us help you navigate the transition before the PSTN switch off 2027 occurs.

Call us: 020 8089 8089
Visit: airbytes.net
Number Porting: airbytes.net/telecom/porting/

Don’t wait for the switch-off. Keep your numbers and move your business communications forward with Airbytes.