With the looming deadline of copper-based broadband services no longer being sold in September 2023 it’s crucial businesses identify solutions with 62.1% of UK businesses still using landlines.

A recent survey conducted in 2021 revealed that 62.1% of UK businesses are still using landlines within their company and 45% are unaware of BT’s looming Big Switch Off deadline.

Although BT announced the Big Switch Off in 2015, a recent survey conducted by National Business Communications has revealed that 44.8% of businesses are not aware of the plan to phase out landlines.

The 2023 figure is an improvement from the 2021 survey, in which 59.7% of respondents confessed to not being aware of the move to routing all calls over IP (Internet Protocol). However, in two years, only a quarter of businesses have ditched landlines.

In a significant development for the UK business landscape, 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.

Stuart Griffiths – Managing Director at National Business Communications, said: “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.

Stuart added: “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.”

In conclusion, the findings of the recent survey shed light on the current state of UK businesses’ awareness and preparedness for BT’s Big Switch Off initiative. Despite the significant strides made since the announcement of this transformative shift in 2015, a notable percentage of businesses remain unaware of the impending deadline to phase out traditional landlines.