By December 2027, BT and Openreach will retire the old analogue copper phone network, the PSTN. Every business landline in the UK has to move to a digital, internet-based line before then. That sounds like a long way off, but the businesses that leave it to the last minute are the ones who end up rushing, paying more, and risking downtime.
The good news is that getting ready is not complicated. Here is a straightforward checklist you can work through at your own pace.
1. Find out what is actually connected to your phone line
Your desk phones are the obvious thing. The ones people forget are the devices quietly sharing that same copper line. Alarm systems, lift emergency phones, door entry intercoms, card payment machines and some CCTV setups can all run over the old line. When the line switches off, anything relying on it stops working too. Walk round and make a list before you do anything else.
2. Note down every phone number you use
Write down your main company number, any direct-dial numbers, and any old numbers customers still ring. You can keep these when you move to a digital line, but you need to know what you have so nothing gets left behind.
3. Check who currently provides your lines and when your contract ends
Dig out your latest phone bill. Note who the provider is, what you pay, and whether you are tied into a contract. This tells you how soon you can move and how much you could save by switching sooner rather than later.
4. Check your internet connection
A digital phone system runs over your broadband. Most standard business broadband is more than enough for clear calls. If your internet is generally reliable for everyday work, it will almost certainly handle your phones. If you are not sure, it is worth a quick check before you commit to anything.
5. Decide how your team wants to make and take calls
Digital phone systems work through an app on a mobile, tablet, PC or Mac, or through a desk handset if people prefer a physical phone. Some staff love the app because they can answer the business line from anywhere. Others want a handset on the desk. You can mix and match, so think about what suits each person.
6. Plan the move so there is no downtime
This is the part people worry about most, and it is the easiest to get right. A number can be ported across to the new system while your old line keeps working, so calls keep coming in throughout. The switch itself happens with no gap in service. The key is not to cancel your old line until the new one is live.
7. Do it before the rush
As December 2027 gets closer, more businesses will be trying to move at the same time. Sorting it now means you move on your terms, with time to test everything, rather than scrambling near the deadline.
Where we come in
Virtual Voice Office replaces your old copper lines with a cloud phone system that runs on apps and desk phones, keeps your existing number, and needs no engineer visit. We are based in the North East and our support is here in Sunderland, not a call centre. Most customers are live and saving within a week, on rolling monthly terms with no long-term contract.
If you want to work through this checklist together, we are happy to talk it through with no pressure.
0191 543 3488 | sales@virtualvoice.uk | virtualvoice.uk
