The UK Landline Switch-Off: What Businesses Need to Know

TL;DR

By 2027, all UK copper landlines will be shut down. Businesses must switch to VoIP. If you need reliable business calling, geographic numbers in over 165 countries, and full control over your phone setup, Voyced is ready to help.

The UK landline switch off is real, and it’s coming fast

The UK’s traditional phone network (PSTN) will be permanently shut down by January 2027.

UK landline switch off means:

• All copper landlines will stop working.

• You won’t be able to make or receive calls through standard phone sockets.

• Everything will need to run over broadband.

  

Why?
The PSTN is over 40 years old. It’s outdated, expensive, and can’t support modern digital services. Moving to internet-based telephony (VoIP) is cleaner, cheaper, and far more flexible, but only if you prepare properly.

Your current provider may have already contacted you, or will soon, about switching to their own digital voice setup. But that doesn’t mean you have to stick with them. Now is the perfect time to explore better, more flexible business options like Voyced.

Who’s affected?

Every business.

Even if you think you’ve already moved to a modern system, double-check:

• Do you have analogue handsets plugged into wall sockets?

• Are you using a fax machine, door-entry system, or alarm connected to a phone line?

• Is your number tied to a single location or a broadband router?

If so, you’ll need to upgrade.

What happens if you do nothing?

Your phones could stop working once the switch-off reaches your area, unless you’ve moved your numbers to some sort of Business VoIP Solution in time.

That could mean:

• Missed calls from customers

• No telephone access during emergencies

• Alarms and safety systems failing

• Lost bookings or leads

That’s why every business must act now, not next year, not next month.

What are your options?

You’ll need a VoIP (Voice over IP) solution. There are two main types:

1. Basic consumer-grade VoIP
   These often come bundled with home broadband. They’re cheap but limited. Usually one number, one location, no real control, no global routing.

2. Dedicated business-grade VoIP
   These are built for companies that need:

   • Multiple users or departments

   • Call routing, time-based rules

   • Geographic or national numbers

   • Reliable service across countries

   • Support for remote workers or mobile teams

That’s where Voyced comes in.

What Voyced actually offers (and why it’s different)

Voyced is a European business VoIP provider. We focus only on business users, no home accounts, no bundled TV or mobile deals.

Here’s what you get:

• Real business phone numbers

  • Choose from over 165 countries

  • Geographic, National, TollFree, UIFN and more

  • Keep your number even if your office moves, or a branche closes

• Call handling that fits your team

  • Set business hours

  • Route calls by department or user

  • Add voicemail, call forwarding, and Follow-Me setups with ease

• SIP Trunks and Hosted IPPBX

  

  • Use your own PBX system or plug straight into Voyced’s Free hosted IPPBX

  • Ideal for multi-location companies or call-heavy teams

• Roaming eSIMs for business travellers

  • Keep your mobile staff connected across borders

• Full control

  • Configure your own numbers and call flow

  • Scale up or down as your needs change

  • Only pay for what you use

• Support from real people

  • You won’t get a chatbot

  • Email, phone or portal-based help is always available

  • We understand the legal and technical rules in every country we serve

What Voyced does not do

No false promises here. To be clear:

• Voyced doesn’t offer home phone services

• We don’t install routers or adapt your physical wiring

• We don’t supply emergency battery packs or analogue-to-digital adapters

• We don’t sell bundled internet or mobile plans

• We don’t make up fake “landline boxes” with magic features

We’re a true VoIP service for business, not a workaround or stopgap.

How to move your business to VoIP

Step 1: Review your current setup

• List all numbers your company uses

• Check whether any are tied to a copper socket or analogue device

Step 2: Choose your phone number setup

• Do you want UK Geographic numbers (like 020 or 0161)?

• Do you need National numbers like 0330 or TollFree?

• Do you serve other countries?

Voyced can give you all of these, under one account.

Step 3: Set up your routing and team

• Decide how calls should be answered: live agents, voicemail, IVR?

• Use Voyced’s portal to configure your routing rules

Step 4: Connect your devices

• Use SIP phones, apps, or softphones

• Or connect your own PBX via a SIP connection/trunk

Step 5: Go live and test

• Make inbound and outbound calls

• Set failover rules (e.g. route to mobile if office loses internet)

• Train your team

Summary: Why business VoIP matters more than ever

With the PSTN shutting down, businesses need to:

• Ditch the copper

• Stop relying on bundled broadband voice

• Take control of their phone numbers

Voyced helps you do all of that, and gives you the flexibility to grow, adapt, and stay reachable worldwide.

If your current provider isn’t giving you full control, or if you’re still not sure what happens when the PSTN turns off, now is the time to switch.

Let’s keep your business reachable, anywhere, anytime.
Set up a proper VoIP system now with Voyced.

Need help choosing the right setup?

Let’s talk.