PSTN Switch-Off

PSTN Switch-Off: Is your home ready for the move from copper?

The UK’s traditional landline network is changing. The old copper phone line network, which has been used for landline calls for decades, is being retired and replaced with newer digital phone services.

This change affects households across the UK that still use a landline phone. Many homes have already been moved over, but if your landline still plugs into the phone socket in your wall, your provider may need to move you to a digital service before the old network is switched off.

For many people, this is also a good time to check whether full fibre broadband is available at home.

Wessex Internet builds and installs reliable full fibre broadband across rural communities in Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. Even if your current provider cannot offer fibre at your address, Wessex Internet may already be able to connect you.

Check your postcode today to see if Wessex full fibre is available at your home.

What is the PSTN switch-off?

For decades, the UK’s landline phone network has run through the Public Switched Telephone Network, often shortened to PSTN. This is the older copper-based network that has powered landline calls for many years, and it also supported a lot of broadband connections in the past. But this network is now ageing. It is becoming harder to maintain, less reliable and no longer the best fit for the way homes and businesses use connectivity today. That is why the UK is moving to digital phone services, where calls are carried over a broadband connection instead of the old copper phone network. Openreach has confirmed that the old PSTN network is due to be retired by 31 January 2027.

Why full fibre matters

As the old copper network is phased out, a strong and reliable broadband connection is becoming even more important. Full fibre broadband is different from older copper-based connections. It uses fibre-optic cables all the way to your home, giving you a faster, more reliable connection that is better suited to modern home life. Whether you work from home, stream TV, make video calls, use smart home devices or rely on your broadband every day, full fibre gives your home a connection that is ready for the future.

Your current provider may not be your only option

Some providers may contact customers about the move away from copper and offer an upgrade to a digital service. But in some rural areas, not every provider can offer full fibre at every address. If you have been told fibre is not available at your home, it is worth checking with Wessex Internet. We have built our own full fibre network across rural parts of the South West, including many villages and hard-to-reach communities that other networks may not yet serve. Your home may already be ready to connect

What does this mean for Wessex Internet customers?

If you are already a Wessex Internet broadband customer, please don’t worry. Your broadband service is already delivered over our full fibre network, not the old copper phone line network. That means your Wessex Internet broadband connection is already prepared for the move away from copper. If you still have a separate landline, telecare device, alarm system or anything else connected to your phone line, you should check with the provider of that service to understand whether any changes are needed

What should I do next?

If your current broadband still relies on old copper lines, or if your provider has told you that fibre is not available at your home, now is a good time to check your options. Wessex Internet may already be able to connect your home to reliable full fibre broadband

Check your postcode today and see if full fibre is available at your address.

Need help? At Wessex Internet, we’re here to help rural homes stay connected with reliable full fibre broadband. Check your postcode online, or speak to our friendly local team to find out whether your home is ready to connect.