BT Group announced in 2017 that the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) would be closed down in 2025. On 16 May 2024, BT Group announced its decision to reset this PSTN switch-off date to 31 January 2027, to allow more time for CPs to safely migrate their vulnerable customers off the PSTN.

As Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) relies on the PSTN, that means Openreach will no longer offer or support WLR products (that enable own-brand phone service on our network using our copper cables and networking equipment) by January 2027, as we move to new digital, internet-based (All IP) services such as FTTP, SOGfast and SOGEA.

We stopped selling new WLR across the UK on 5 September 2023. And as we continue our full fibre roll out, we’re also winding down the range of copper-based services we supply.

The following Openreach products will therefore be withdrawn as part of WLR withdrawal:

This is an exciting challenge and it’s vital to understand the impact of the digital upgrade on your business.

16 May 2024: Openreach’s response to BT Group’s revised timetable for PSTN switch-off, from December 2025 to 31 January 2027. GEN048/24

BT Group announced, on 16 May 2024, that the date for PSTN switch-off will now be 31 January 2027. As a result, we’ve decided to align our WLR withdrawal with this new date.  
How does this change affect CPs?

• CPs now have more time to identify and safely migrate their vulnerable customers, but they should do this as soon as they can, given it’s becoming increasingly hard to maintain legacy services
• We recommend using our Prove Telecare product, once available, to support end customers in migrating safely
• CPs should continue to work with Openreach on complex migration scenarios and we’d welcome their involvement in the industry working group on how to manage non-responding CPs and end customers

To help us prepare for the digital upgrade we’ve stopped selling WLR phone lines to new customers across the UK since September 2023.  In addition, as part of our FTTP Priority Exchange Stop Sell, we have issued notice where exchange areas have reached 75% ultrafast coverage, meaning that FTTP has become the main available product for CPs to consume in these locations. For more information on stop sells, please follow the link here.

We’re also working closely with CPs and industry bodies to build an inventory of line connections to determine the impact on end customers and collectively work through any migration challenges. This is where we really need your help and insight – and that’s why we’ve set up working groups to help gather this knowledge. By working together, we can deliver the best outcomes for industry and end customers.

To receive invites to our working group meetings, please follow the link here to register for our Newsletter and Future Events Subscription.  

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