As you likely have heard, the UK’s copper network for telephone communications is set to be retired in 2025. This network has been active since 1876, and over the last few decades, it has offered a viable solution for providing internet services to households all over the nation.

In December 2025, the ISDN (integrated service digital network) and PSTN (public switched telephone network) systems will close down forever. In their place, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology will facilitate phone communication moving forward, and fibre-optic and full-fibre broadband will offer quick and reliable internet access.

Why the Change to Fibre-Optic?

The simple answer, copper networks are an old and outdated technology which the digital has outgrown. With such a vast array of devices being connected to networks and a greater sense of urgency when it comes to the quality, speed, and reliability of internet connections—an upgrade is vital to accommodate the increasing needs of a growing population.

The PSTN network has been used for almost 150 years and was originally utilised for regular telephone communication across the UK. Over time, the requirements for the service have increased significantly, partly due to population growth but primarily due to the digital age and the increasing demand for high-quality internet services. 

In 1986, the ISDN protocol (integrated service digital network) was introduced to enhance the copper network. This allowed more services, including FTTC broadband internet, to operate through the ageing network.

Today, the copper network simply can’t deliver the reliability or capacity modern households and businesses require. Therefore, critical steps have been taken to modernise the network, enhancing reliability through the copper switch-off and moving towards VoIP.

Internet/Communications Solutions After the Copper Switch-Off

In the UK, traditional landline contracts ended in 2023 and were replaced by VoIP contracts ahead of the ISDN and PSTN switch-off. Existing contracts extending to 2025 won't see price changes but may require phone line connection to routers. For customers, the upgrade is undoubtedly a huge benefit, and it’s essential to know what your internet/communication options are after the switch-off.

Internet Connectivity

As mentioned, the traditional and outdated copper network will be replaced by December 2025, with further plans to decommission all copper cables in 2027. The transition from copper to fibre should be seamless and hassle-free for the majority of customers, with many people already benefitting from Full Fibre broadband. However, it’s not available for everyone right now, especially those in remote and rural areas.

Standard fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) broadband uses the same network of old copper cables, which will remain available after the ISDN and PSTN switch-off. However, it’ll have the same constraints as a copper connection, including lower speeds and less reliability than fibre or wireless broadband solutions.

Following the copper switch-off, your internet solutions will include:

• Full Fibre broadband: Connects your home/business directly to the exchange using fibre optic cables. 
• Fibre-optic broadband: Uses fibre cables from the exchange to your street cabinet and older copper cables to connect to your home.
• Mobile Internet: Another alternative is mobile, which utilises cellular networks (3G, 4G, and 5G) for online connectivity. This can be a viable option for those without fibre optic services in their area. However, it may not offer the same speeds and stability as fibre optic connections.

Telecommunications

In preparation for the copper switch-off, home and business broadband customers need to switch over to VoIP. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), like Wildanet’s Phoneline+ service, enables telecommunications over the Internet, hence the name. While PSTN and ISDN phone lines rely on the analogue system of copper cables, VoIP is digital and requires an Internet connection and an IP phone.

Your IP phone connects to your internet router, and the phone call process via VoIP works like this:

• Enter a phone number and press call
• The IP phone connects to your VoIP service provider
• The provider starts the call and transfers data to and from your phone
• The data is converted into sounds, allowing you to speak to and hear whoever is on the phone.

Although the technology is different, the process is very much the same as conventional phone calls. In fact, it’s doubtful you’ll notice any differences.