technologyreseller.co.uk 29 SWITCH-OFF or so would be plenty of time for most organisations to make a switch, but the reality is that time wasn’t the main factor here: it was cost. A lot of UK businesses and organisations are struggling in the current economic climate and having to find funding for a major digital transformation project like this was an issue that many didn’t have the capacity to deal with. “Economic forecasts suggest that the UK will be in a slightly better place by 2026, which is when the revised switch-off date will need to be budgeted for – if, of course, BT stick to the 2027 deadline – and that may give companies a chance to budget appropriately instead of rushing into a solution. “Obviously, this only applies to organisations that knew the switch-off was coming. Study after study shows that around 30% of most businesses were completely unaware of the December 2025 cut-off date. With this new deadline, the industry, Ofcom and the Government, whoever that is post-election, need to work together to make the transition seamless and easy. The Comms industry was trying hard, and many of them had come together for the Fit to Switch campaign, but that’s not enough. We need both Ofcom and the Government to be more involved. “The switch-off delay does raise one question: who is going to foot the bill for the running costs of this legacy technology? The delay may not be the blessing that it seems because there is going to be a cost. “For companies that can switch over earlier than 2027, it may make sense to do so as legacy technology only gets more expensive as time goes by. We’ve seen businesses save up to £500,000 over a three-year period when moving from legacy to cloud communications. Sometimes it is more expensive to do nothing and wait.” Dom Norton, Director, Spitfire Network Services “Our message to customers is unchanged. Although this revised date buys more time and may now seem some way off, the huge task to move to an all-IP future-proofed service remains. Customers should aim to take action now, as the announcement only provides a one-year extension and we are still likely to experience resource bottlenecks as the months go by. “Prices are also likely to continue to increase for the old network services for analogue, ISDN and broadband, adding to the decent cost savings already available on all-IP voice and fibre broadband alternatives, not to mention the other benefits including more flexible working.” Dale Parkinson, Managing Director – Connectivity, Giacom “Giacom is committed to supporting the transition from PSTN to advanced all-IP alternatives. While we are enthusiastic about the switch-off and the benefits it will bring to the channel and the UK as a whole, we understand BT Group’s decision to extend the migration deadline to January 2027. “However, this should not be viewed as an opportunity to stand down, but as an opportunity to take action. This extension provides the industry with valuable breathing space to address challenges and ensure a smooth migration to replacement services for all users and use cases. As an industry, we have a responsibility to ensure a safe transition. “At Giacom, we have been preparing and assisting our partners for this change and will continue to do so, leveraging the additional time to enhance education and support. We will maintain our efforts to engage partners about migrating to all-IP, ensuring they are ready well ahead of the new deadline. Giacom remains dedicated to championing this transition and helping businesses benefit from next-generation communication services.” Andy Fung, Solutions Architect, Espria “The extension of the digital switch deadline to January 2027 provides a welcome reprieve for businesses that haven’t yet completed the move. This additional time allows them to ensure a smooth transition and avoid potential disruptions caused by a backlog of users rushing to migrate by the 2025 deadline. “However, this delay is a double-edged sword, as many businesses that have yet to make the move might question the urgency of revised timelines, potentially leading to more confusion. Clear communication, especially from providers, will be key. Offering resources and guidance to help navigate the extended timeframe is critical to minimise disruption and ensure a successful transition in time for the switching off of current services in 2027. “Whilst we’re aware this is also a consumer issue, with millions yet to be transferred to digital voice services, continued... Andy Fung Dale Parkinson Dominic Norton
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