Openreach to retire UK PSTN service in less than six months

Source: lightreading.comAugust 12, 2026

TL;DR: Openreach, the BT-owned UK network operator, is set to retire its legacy public switched telephone network (PSTN) in less than six months, according to Light Reading. The report said more than 1 million people still use the analog service ahead of the shutdown.

Openreach is preparing to retire its legacy PSTN, or public switched telephone network, in the UK in less than six months, according to a Light Reading report. The PSTN is the traditional analog fixed-line telephone network used for voice calls over copper lines.

Light Reading reported that more than 1 million people still use the analog service ahead of the planned shutdown. The article identified Openreach as a BT-owned operator and described the network as old analog technology that is now nearing retirement.

The report concerns fixed-line telecom infrastructure in the UK rather than eSIM-specific technology. The shutdown is part of the transition away from legacy copper-based voice services to newer digital networks, but the source excerpt did not provide a specific shutdown date or further operational details.

Related questions

  • What is the PSTN and how does it differ from digital voice networks?
  • How many people still use Openreach's analog phone service in the UK?
  • When is Openreach expected to retire its legacy PSTN service?

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