Connectivity Guide · 24 April 2026
The UK full fibre rollout and what it means for business
PSTN switch-off, gigabit availability and how to plan a resilient connectivity strategy.
The UK PSTN switch-off and full fibre rollout are the biggest change to business connectivity in a generation. Waiting until the last minute means paying more and having fewer options.
What's actually changing
- PSTN and ISDN services withdrawn - all voice moves to IP
- Openreach and altnets rolling out FTTP to the majority of premises
- SoGEA replacing traditional FTTC where fibre isn't yet available
- 5G fixed wireless becoming a credible primary or backup circuit
What this means for your business
- Any alarm, lift line or card terminal on a copper line needs migrating
- Hosted phone systems need resilient, symmetric connectivity
- Multi-site organisations should standardise on SD-WAN over diverse fibre
A sensible 12-month plan
- Audit every phone line, analogue device and site circuit
- Order FTTP or ethernet where availability is confirmed
- Add 4G/5G failover to any site that can't tolerate downtime
- Move voice to a cloud phone system with number porting well in advance
