A recent survey suggests many UK businesses remain unaware of a September deadline for the discontinuation of copper-based broadband services.
Although BT announced the 'Big Switch Off' in 2015, the survey sponsored by National Business Communications reveals 44.8% of businesses are not aware of the plan to phase out landlines.
The 2023 figure is an improvement from a survey in 2021 that recorded a figure of 59.7% per cent but suggests only a quarter of businesses have replaced landlines in favour of routing all calls over Internet Protocol (IP).
Telecommunications provider Openreach by BT plans to move all UK phone lines from the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to a fully digital network.
This decision marks a transformative shift in the way businesses communicate and underscores the dynamic nature of the telecommunications industry.
Businesses need to start preparing for the switch off now.
We anticipate a hold-up in 2025 due to unprepared businesses, which may mean the industry won’t be able to keep up with the number of last-minute orders, possibly leaving businesses without a service.
“While we understand that this change might require adjustments for businesses that have relied on traditional broadband phones, we believe that this shift will ultimately lead to more versatile, efficient, and forward-looking communication strategies for businesses across the UK."
