BT has invited device manufacturers, distributors, providers and other impacted businesses to compatibility test their tech against All-IP parameters in a bid to reboot PSTN switch off planning.
BT has called on the wider industry to step up following a pause to non-voluntary migrations and the Government’s launch of a PSTN Charter to protect vulnerable customers. The current pause will have an impact on the timing of the overall programme, but BT’s priority remains doing this safely, supporting vulnerable customers and those with additional needs in particular.
“BT was among the first telecom providers to sign the new Government Public Switched Telephone Networks Charter to help protect telecare and vulnerable customers in their migrations to digital technology,” stated Steve Blackshaw (pictured above), IP Migration Director – Business, BT. “We continue to work with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Ofcom, industry groups and local authorities to ensure we have the right processes in place to help us identify and protect these vulnerable customers.”
As a result, and along with other providers, BT Group’s non-voluntary customer migrations are currently paused, but BT Business is continuing to migrate business customers. “We are working to minimise any delays as the switch to digital landlines is a necessity given the increasing fragility of the analogue landline network,” added Blackshaw.
We are working to minimise any delays as the switch to digital landlines is a necessity given the increasing fragility of the analogue landline network
He also pointed out that countries like Germany and Norway are ‘way ahead of the UK’ in the move to All-IP, while The Netherlands and Estonia have already switched off their PSTN networks. “But given the size and nuances of the UK’s national network modernisation there will be some situations where the switch is more complicated,” commented Blackshaw. “This includes landline-only and voice-only customers without broadband, and businesses with unique edge use cases or devices that aren’t compatible with All-IP products on the market today.”
Blackshaw stated that impacted businesses will need an interim solution to remain connected while they are moved off the PSTN, and that BT is developing a temporary solution to provide connectivity, but only when there is no other option available. “In the meantime we’re urging businesses to register their interest to test this temporary pre-digital phone line product so we can work with them to understand and test specific business use cases,” added Blackshaw. “BT has a dedicated test facility at Adastral Park, our R&D centre near Ipswich. Device manufacturers, distributors and providers can come and check that their existing technology is compatible with All-IP services free of charge.”
Under review
Responding to the 2025 switch off delay, Virgin Media told Comms Dealer in a statement, ‘Last December we signed a Government-led charter and have paused all landline migrations, carried out an end-to-end review and will make further improvements to the measures we already have in place before switchovers restart’.
This evolving situation has exposed growing tensions between network operators and local authorities. The Virgin Media statement went on to say, ‘While telecoms companies like us have a crucial role to play in this switchover activity, it’s essential that telecare companies and local authorities also step up and meet their responsibilities to ensure everyone receives the support they need’.
A spokesperson for the DSIT told The Telegraph that switching off the analogue landline network is the telecoms industry’s decision, with the Government having no formal role in deciding timelines.
An Openreach spokesperson told Comms Dealer: “Our role in this transition is to withdraw the analogue products that work over the PSTN, including our WLR product. Should BT Group’s assessment suggest any changes to the availability of the PSTN platform then we’ll consider that impact on our WLR withdrawal plans. We’ll continue to play our part to make sure the switch to digital is achieved without loss of service to those most in need.”