The Big Switch Off
Openreach and BT have announced that the plan to withdraw all copper-based analogue, ISDN and broadband services, which was scheduled to complete by 31st December 2025, has now been delayed until 31st January 2027.
Our message to customers is unchanged. Although this revised date buys more time and indeed may now seem some way off, the huge task to move to an all-IP future proofed service remains. Customers should still aim to take action now, as the announcement only provides a one year extension and we are still likely to experience resource bottlenecks as the months go by. Prices are also likely to continue to increase on the old network services for analogue, ISDN and broadband, with decent cost savings already available on their all-IP voice and fibre broadband alternatives, not to mention the other additional benefits including more flexible working.
The process to switch to all-IP is very straight forward and you should contact us today to discuss a migration plan for your business.
What services are affected?
Anything currently using a copper line! Simply put, every single Openreach service utilising copper lines will be affected. The most apparent services are analogue telephone lines (PSTN) and digital lines (ISDN) but it’s not just about telephone services. Any service that uses this infrastructure will also be impacted including:
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Analogue voice telephone services
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Dial up devices, fax, alarm systems, modem, building management systems, lift lines, PDQ machines
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ISDN 2e and ISDN 30e lines
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Broadband services that run over an analogue line e.g. ASDL & FTTC Fibre Broadband
What is happening and when?
On the 5th September 2023, the National Stop Sell came into effect. Services now classified as legacy can no longer be ordered and all services in place have effectively been frozen.
With a few exceptions you are now no longer able to alter your current service or switch to another provider without upgrading to a “future-proofed” service. So that means no new lines, analogue line to analogue line migrations, or expansions of services will be available on any analogue line and no switching your broadband service as-is to another provider.
We will still be able to offer the following:
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Add or remove Select Service calling features to analogue or ISDN
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Amend service maintenance levels e.g. SL2 to SL3
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Amend Dynamic Line Management (DLM) settings on SMPF broadband
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Migration from analogue based-services to futureproofed offerings e.g. FTTC Fibre Broadband to SOGEA Broadband
The project completion is now scheduled for 31st January 2027 and any remaining services are withdrawn.
From then on, it’s all-IP or nothing.
Our mission
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Spitfire will ensure that our customers are fully aware of the impact of the WLR switch off
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We will offer a choice of technologies to ensure every customer has a suitable service for the future for both connectivity and telephony
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We will ensure that every customer migrates to the new services as smoothly as possible
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We will keep our customers informed of the elements of the project that impact them so they can make unrushed, informed decisions
Keep me informed
If you would like to keep up to date with the latest information, please complete our contact form below:
WLR Keep me informed request
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So what are the alternatives?
In order to turn off analogue services, new technologies are being phased in. At the point of Stop sell exchanges will typically provide full fibre coverage enabling a new product portfolio which includes:
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Fibre to the Premise (FTTP): providing internet connectivity and IP telephony capability
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SOGEA: Fibre connectivity using the existing copper line but with no analogue telephony capability
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IP telephony: this has of course been available for years but will need to 100% replace the PSTN and ISDN Public telephony networks
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Redcare NGP product range: This replaces legacy products reliant on PSTN connections with IP and mobile connected equivalents.
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FireSwitch Hosted PBX 2.2
Traditional Telephony
VoIP using SIP Trunks
VoIP using Cloud Hosted PBX
FTTC Broadband over analogue line
SOGEA Fibre Broadband
The Great Migration is the largest herd movement of animals on the planet involving an astonishing 1.5 million Blue Wildebeest.
Get ahead of the Great Migration to IP Telephony with Spitfire’s products and solutions.
The Great Migration is the largest herd movement of animals on the planet involving an astonishing 1.5 million Blue Wildebeest.
Get ahead of the Great Migration to IP Telephony with Spitfire’s products and solutions.
The Great Migration is the largest herd movement of animals on the planet involving an astonishing 1.5 million Blue Wildebeest.
Get ahead of the Great Migration to IP Telephony with Spitfire’s products and solutions.
• Innovative
• Flexible
• Reliable
• Supportive
• Cost effective
• Innovative
• Flexible
• Reliable
• Supportive
• Cost effective
We’re here to help!
Feel free to call or email our team on:
020 7501 3333 or enquiries@spitfire.co.uk
The information submitted on this form will be used solely for the purpose of responding to your enquiry. A copy of our Privacy Policy may be found here
We’re here to help!
Feel free to call or email our team on:
020 7501 3333 or enquiries@spitfire.co.uk
The information submitted on this form will be used solely for the purpose of responding to your enquiry. A copy of our Privacy Policy may be found here