Why staying on old analogue and ISDN lines in 2026 could cost you
The Great British Switch Off…
The impact of the BT Switch-Off for old analogue and ISDN lines is no longer on the horizon – it’s happening now.
With the 31st January 2027 deadline fast approaching, businesses still relying on old analogue and ISDN lines could be starting to feel the impact. And in 2026, that impact is becoming impossible to ignore because it could be hitting your bottom line.
What’s happened so far, what we are hearing and why it matters…
If your business is still using the older ISDN lines, standard analogue phone lines, or older ADSL/FTTC broadband, you might want to keep an eye on your upcoming bills.
What’s happening? The industry word is that the costs for these older “copper” services are climbing quite sharply. It looks like a move to encourage everyone to finally switch over to digital before the old network gets retired.
The trends we are seeing: Nothing is ever 100% until the bill lands, but based on what’s happening across the industry, we are seeing those anticipated price jumps start to take effect:
April: We’ve already seen the rumoured 25% increase become a reality for many legacy services.
July & October: There is still strong talk of further hikes as high as 40% in the summer and another 40% in the autumn.
The bottom line
If those projections for the rest of the year hold true, the cost of keeping an old line could climb significantly. It’s a bit of a “legacy tax” you’d be paying a lot more for the exact same service you’ve had for years, just because the network is being phased out.
Why the “Legacy Tax” matters now
It is helpful and important to understand the context behind these potential hikes:
Wholesale Price Pressure: Increases are set by Openreach at a national level. While some providers may apply these at slightly different intervals, the upward trend seems unavoidable for any business still on copper.
The “Stop-Sell” is active: Openreach has already stopped the sale of new ISDN and analogue lines. This means you cannot add new lines to your old system; you can only maintain what you have or migrate to digital.
Expiring Infrastructure: As we approach the 2027 deadline, legacy equipment is becoming harder to maintain and repair. By staying on copper, you could be paying a premium for an “end-of-life” service that will soon be obsolete.
The recommendation: By migrating to a digital solution like PhoneLine+, SIP Trunks or the newer and much cheaper SoGEA internet access lines now, you exit this price-hike cycle and secure a more reliable, future-proof service for your business.
Let’s explore the alternatives
Switching to a digital solution isn’t just about avoiding rising costs, it’s an opportunity to upgrade to a system that better fits how modern businesses operate.
By moving away from ISDN now, you unlock:
Cost efficiency: Avoid paying for fixed blocks of lines you don’t use. With digital solutions like SIP, you only pay for what you need and can scale up or down as your business changes.
Flexibility and mobility: Your business number is no longer tied to a physical location. Whether your team is in the office, at home, or on the move, your phone system moves with you.
Modern connectivity: With solutions like SoGEA (for areas without full fibre) and Full Fibre where available, you benefit from faster, more reliable connectivity, ideal for cloud systems, calls, and collaboration tools.
Spotlight: PhoneLine+
A simple, low-disruption switch.
For businesses that want a straightforward, low-risk move away from traditional phone lines, PhoneLine+ offers a simple and effective solution.
Evoke Telecom has partnered with PhoneLine+ so we can deliver a reliable, easy-to-deploy alternative tailored for small businesses and sole traders.
It’s designed specifically for those who want to keep their existing number without the complexity of legacy systems.
No engineer required: a software-first solution that can be live in as little as 24 hours.
Use any device: take calls on your mobile, laptop, or an IP desk phone.
Professional features included: voicemail to email, out-of-hours messaging, and music on hold as standard.
For many businesses, it’s the fastest way to future-proof communications without disruption.
You don’t have to rely on an automatic migration, you have options…
BT has announced a programme to move some customers automatically, but there are limitations.
Complex services such as ISDN, Featureline, and Multiline cannot be migrated automatically.
In many cases, there won’t be a seamless upgrade, instead, the possibility of a loss of service.
If you rely on these systems, or if your broadband is still running on ADSL, your services will simply stop working on 31st January 2027 if no action is taken.
Even where migration is offered, a one-size-fits-all approach can result in lost features, broken call flows, and disruption to your day-to-day operations.
Don’t leave it too late
If you’re planning to avoid the price increases, now is the time to look at your options.
Porting existing phone numbers typically takes two to four weeks. Leave it until June, and you may risk being caught by the next billing cycle before your migration is complete.
As the 2027 deadline approaches, demand for fibre installations will increase and engineer availability will become more limited.
Acting early means:
Avoiding unnecessary cost increases
Securing installation slots
Ensuring a smooth, controlled transition
What can Evoke Telecom do to help?
We’re here to help you make the best of these changes, and to make sure your business doesn’t get caught out.
Our team can carry out a communications audit to give you a clear, honest view of:
1. What you’re currently running
2. What needs to change
3. When you need to act
From there, we’ll build a migration plan around your business, protecting your existing numbers, preserving key features, and ensuring nothing gets missed.
No jargon. No pressure. Just straightforward advice.
Get ahead of the switch off.
The cost of staying on ISDN could leave you with a sharp price increase, and the deadline isn’t moving.
Speak to the Evoke Telecom team today to discuss your current setup and plan your move well ahead of January 2027.
