The PSTN Switch-Off: What Hampshire Businesses Need to Do Now

The UK PSTN is being decommissioned in phases. Any business still using ISDN or analogue landlines needs a migration plan — and in Hampshire, many exchanges are already through the first stop-sell milestones.

What this means locally

In Hampshire, most exchanges have already begun the switch. Businesses that leave this too late risk service disruption, and there is a strong chance replacement kit will be in short supply near the deadline as demand spikes. Do not be the business calling for handsets at the last minute.

What to do now

• Audit every phone line and card-payment terminal in your business.
• Confirm which lines are still analogue or ISDN — check every invoice line.
• Get a migration plan to VoIP or FTTP with number porting.
• Confirm resilience — failover, backup connectivity, out-of-hours routing.
• Check devices that quietly use the phone line — alarms, lifts, fax, EPOS.

Devices that catch people out

• Lift emergency phones — usually PSTN-only, need a specific replacement.
• Intruder alarm signalling — often a legacy phone line.
• Card-payment terminals on older leases.
• Fax machines — still in use in some medical and legal settings.
• CCTV alerting — if it dials out, check what number it uses.

A sensible migration timeline for a Hampshire SME

• Month 1: full audit of every line, device and contract.
• Month 2: choose a replacement platform, plan the number ports.
• Month 3: install FTTP or leased-line connectivity where needed.
• Month 4: pilot the new system, iron out any config issues.
• Month 5: full cutover with numbers ported.
• Month 6: decommission legacy lines and stop paying rental.