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PSTN switch off in South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire

PSTN Switch-Off 2027: A Micro Business Checklist for South Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire

If your business still uses a traditional landline, this is one of those “future problems” that becomes a very expensive present problem overnight.

The UK’s old phone network — the PSTN (and ISDN) — is being switched off, with the final switch-off date set for 31 January 2027.

BT’s advice to business customers is even clearer: move by the end of December 2025 to safeguard services and avoid the last-minute scramble.

For micro businesses across South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire (Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Barnsley, Scunthorpe, Brigg, Barton and surrounding areas), the risk isn’t just “your phone might change”.

It’s this: something important is connected to that line and you don’t realise until it stops working.

So here’s your plain-English checklist to stay ahead of it.

What is the PSTN switch-off (in non technical speak)?

The PSTN is the old copper-based network that traditional landlines run on. It’s being retired and replaced with digital phone services that run over broadband (often described as VoIP, Digital Voice, Cloud Voice, or All-IP).

In practice: calls increasingly rely on your internet connection rather than a separate “phone line”.

Why micro businesses should care (it’s not just the handset)

This change can affect anything that relies on a traditional phone line.

The UK Government specifically warns that devices reliant on the PSTN will need upgrading, and calls out things like alarm systems and door entry systems.

For micro businesses, the usual “gotchas” include:

  • Card payment terminals (some are still line-dependent)
  • Intruder / fire alarms (especially monitored systems)
  • Door entry / intercoms
  • Fax (yes, it’s still clinging on)

Even if you think you’re “mobile-first”, it’s worth checking what’s still connected in the background.

Your micro business PSTN switch-off checklist (do this now!)

1) List everything that uses a phone socket

Do a quick walkaround and note anything plugged into:

  • a phone socket on the wall
  • a phone line in a comms cabinet
  • a “mystery box” that nobody has touched since 2014 but its still switch on and covered in dust

If you find something like an alarm dialler or a card machine, don’t guess — identify it properly and confirm how it connects by speaking to your supplier of that equipment.

2) Check your broadband (because your calls will depend on it)

When calls move to digital, your broadband isn’t “just for emails” anymore — it becomes part of your phone system. That doesn’t mean you need the fanciest package on earth… but it does mean the connection has to be right for your business.

This is where we see micro businesses get caught out. Not because they’ve done something wrong — but because they’ve been sold a one-size-fits-all deal that doesn’t match how they actually work.

At KAT, we’ve spent years helping businesses across South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire get the right connectivity in place — whether that’s:

  • upgrading to a faster, more stable service
  • improving reliability for busy periods
  • setting up sensible resilience so a single fault doesn’t stop the business taking calls

3) Plan for power cuts (because VoIP needs power)

Traditional landlines often kept working in a power cut. Digital voice/VoIP typically needs:

  • power to the router
  • power to the phone/handset (or your device) either directly or through a Power Over Ethernet Switch.

Ofcom highlights protections and rules around access to emergency calls and resilience during the move to digital.
But as a business, you still need a sensible “what if” plan.

Simple micro business approach:

  • add a small UPS/battery backup to keep router alive briefly
  • set up call forwarding to a mobile as fallback

4) Decide what “phone system” you actually need (keep it lean)

Most micro businesses don’t need a giant call centre setup.

What you do need is:

  • a professional business number
  • voicemail
  • call divert / hunt options
  • an app so you can answer business calls without giving out your personal number
  • the ability to grow later without ripping everything out again

That’s where hosted VoIP stands out from the crowd!

5) Build a simple backup plan (because missed calls = missed money)

For micro businesses, resilience doesn’t need to be fancy — it just needs to work.

A strong (and affordable) approach is:

PSTN switch-off support in South Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire

KAT Communications supports micro businesses across South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire to get ready for the switch-off without headaches.

We’ll help you:

  • identify what’s connected and what might break
  • choose the right broadband and voice setup
  • move your numbers cleanly
  • put in a realistic backup plan so you’re not relying on luck

If you want a quick chat and a straight answer call our friendly team on 01302 260195 or via enquiries@katcommunications.co.uk

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