Your Phone Line Is Being Switched Off. Here’s What to Replace It With
On 31 January 2027, the UK’s old copper phone network is switched off for good. That’s now less than three months away.
If your business still relies on analogue lines or ISDN, you need a replacement in place before then. Leave it until January and you’ll be rushing a decision that should last you the next ten years.
The good news is that this is the perfect excuse to upgrade. Here’s what’s changing, what to look for in a new phone system, and why we recommend 3CX to most small and medium businesses.
What the switch-off means for your business
Anything that runs over the old PSTN or ISDN network will stop working unless it’s moved to a digital service. Openreach has already delayed the date once, from December 2025, and has confirmed 31 January 2027 as the final deadline.
It’s not just your phones. Check these too:
- Desk phones and phone systems on analogue lines or ISDN
- Intruder and fire alarm diallers that call out to a monitoring centre
- Lift emergency lines and door entry systems
- Older card machines and fax lines
- Broadband that runs over a phone line (ADSL)
If you haven’t moved by the deadline, your line may be migrated automatically to a basic digital service. That keeps you connected, but it isn’t a business phone system. You’ll still be missing call routing, remote working and everything else a modern system gives you.
Why AI should be built in, not bolted on
Every phone provider is talking about AI right now. But many are adding it as a separate product, a third-party plugin, or a per-user add-on on top of an old platform.
That usually means another subscription, another login, and call data being passed between systems that weren’t designed to work together.
When AI is part of the phone system itself, it just works where you already are:
- Calls are transcribed so you have a written record to go back to
- AI summaries pull out what the customer needed and what happens next
- An AI receptionist can answer, screen and route calls when you’re busy
- Notes go straight into your CRM, so nobody has to type up a call
If you’re replacing your phone system anyway, it makes sense to choose one where these features are already part of the platform, ready to switch on when you need them.
Why we recommend 3CX
For most SMEs, 3CX is the system we’d pick. It covers what a growing business needs without locking you in.
- AI built into the platform. Call transcription, AI summaries, sentiment analysis and an AI receptionist are all part of 3CX. You can choose Google, OpenAI Whisper or 3CX’s own engine for transcription, or even run it on your own hardware.
- Works with the tools you already use. It integrates with Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace and a long list of CRMs, so calls are logged against the right contact automatically.
- Priced per system, not per seat. 3CX licences are based on how many calls you make at the same time, with one annual price. Adding staff doesn’t add a monthly charge per head.
- Grows with you. Start small, then move up to the Basic, PRO or AI editions as your team and call volume grow. Your users, settings and numbers carry over.
- Your choice of setup. Hosted by 3CX, on your own server, or in your own cloud. Use desk phones, or just the mobile and desktop apps.
One thing to know: the full AI features (call transcription, summaries and sentiment) come with the AI Edition. Voicemail transcription is included in PRO.
Free for teams of up to 10
If you’re a micro business, you can run 3CX for free. The free edition supports up to 10 users and four calls at the same time, and 3CX hosts it for you at no cost.
It’s designed around the 3CX web client and mobile apps, so your team can make and take calls from a browser or smartphone. No desk phones needed.
All you need to bring is a SIP trunk. That’s your digital phone line: it connects 3CX to the outside world and carries your business numbers. We can supply and set this up for you, and port your existing numbers across.
The free edition covers core phone features. When you want more users, more simultaneous calls, CRM integration or the AI features, you upgrade your licence and keep everything you’ve already set up.
Frequently asked questions
When is the PSTN switch-off in the UK?
The PSTN and ISDN networks are being switched off on 31 January 2027. After that date, services that rely on them will stop working unless they’ve been moved to a digital line.
Will my business phone number change?
No. Your existing numbers can be ported to a SIP trunk and used on your new phone system.
Is 3CX really free?
Yes, for up to 10 users and four simultaneous calls. You’ll need a SIP trunk for calls to and from regular phone numbers.
Does the free version of 3CX include AI?
No. The free edition covers core phone features. Full call transcription, AI summaries and sentiment analysis come with the 3CX AI Edition.
Does 3CX work with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace?
Yes. 3CX integrates with Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace, as well as many popular CRMs.
Do I need new desk phones?
Not necessarily. 3CX works with a wide range of IP desk phones, and your team can also use the free mobile and desktop apps instead.
Get your switch sorted before January
The Haven Data Services is a 3CX Bronze Partner based in Oldham. We’ll check what’s running on your current lines, recommend the right 3CX edition, supply your SIP trunk, and handle the move so your numbers keep working. See our business phone systems and VoIP service.
Call us on 0161 826 2303 or book a free line audit. The sooner you start, the less of a rush January will be.
