In 2017 BT Group announced that the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) that powers Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) would be closed down in 2025 to make way for new, improved digital services.

That means that over 16 million copper phone lines will be rendered obsolete, with ‘the big switch off' affecting many homes, businesses and essential public services that still rely on this outdated analogue infrastructure. Organisations using ISDN, PSTN or DSL broadband services will need to migrate them to new digital alternatives.