When will ISDN be turned off?

In 2017, it was announced that ISDN and PSTN would be turned off at the end of 2025 and businesses would need to move their services and communications to an alternative internet-based solution. The process of discontinuing the network will be managed in phases with services being withdrawn gradually area by area before being switched off completely in December 2025.

So far, Openreach has already withdrawn services in Salisbury, Wiltshire and Mildenhall, Suffolk with a view to turning off the network in these areas in April 2023. Businesses operating in these regions should already have been informed about the changes and transitioned to an alternative solution ahead of the switch-off.

From September 2023, customers across the country will no longer be able to purchase new ISDN lines or add new features. For businesses and customers who are currently using ISDN services, this deadline means that you will need to start planning for a transition to an alternative service, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or a hosted PBX system.

The transition process can take some time, especially for larger businesses with complex communication systems. Therefore, it is important to start planning and researching alternatives well in advance of the stop sell date. (Here’s some useful FAQs)

Overall, the stop sell date for ISDN in September 2023 means that businesses and customers in the UK need to start planning for a transition to alternative services if they have not already done so. While it may be tempting to wait until closer to the final 2025 deadline to update your infrastructure, the real opportunity lies in upgrading to alternative systems now. By doing so, businesses can gain a competitive advantage, unlock flexible ways of working, future-proof their operations, and avoid the bottleneck that will occur as others rush to switch before the 2025 deadline. While there may be some challenges during the transition, the move away from ISDN presents an opportunity to upgrade communication systems and improve productivity and efficiency. It is essential to invest in these technologies now to ensure that you are ready for the switch when it happens. Read our related blog series below to find out more about this ISDN switch off.