Openreach sets January 2027 deadline for copper network

Openreach says about one million copper-based telephone lines remain active in the UK as it prepares to retire the Public Switched Telephone Network on January 31, 2027, a deadline the company says will not be extended. Around 300,000 of the remaining lines are at business premises, where connected equipment may require more complex migration work. The network operator says businesses should check which services still depend on the legacy system and coordinate with their communications providers. Alongside ordinary phone lines, the connections may support card-payment terminals, lift emergency phones, fire and security alarms, and building access controls. Some systems may need equipment replacement or reconfiguration before they can use digital services. Openreach has warned that services still reliant on the copper network could be disrupted after the cutoff. It says customers who have not migrated may be moved to EVAc, a temporary, voice-only fallback intended to preserve access to essential calls. The service is restricted and more expensive than digital alternatives; linked broadband may continue where technically possible, according to the company. James Lilley,...