As the retirement date for copper telephone infrastructure draws near, BT is urging all UK companies to switch to more robust, reliable digital networks by the end of 2025.

The UK’s traditional copper telephone infrastructure is set to be retired by the end of January 2027, and BT warns that firms failing to migrate sooner will face increased outages as the ageing network becomes more fragile.

Ofcom’s recent Connected Nations report highlighted that the number of incidents on the legacy Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) increased by 45% last year.

BT’s own national survey found that one in five (22%) still define themselves as “analogue,” and relying heavily on traditional or 20th century technologies.

By contrast, four in five (80%) that have invested in new technology say it has given them a competitive advantage, with 79% saying it has helped them to find new customers.

The study also shows attitudes towards tech have shifted over decades as businesses adjust to the impact of era-defining tools and upgrades.

One in seven (14%) of small business leaders admit they’d been sceptical or resistant to taking their business online when the internet took off in the 1990s, with 18% saying the same about social media a decade later, and 11% dragging their feet during the advent of the personal computer in the 70s and 80s.

Better digital connectivity, alongside tools like social media, has laid the foundations for startups and scale-ups across the UK in recent years, with almost three quarters (73%) of those running a business saying they couldn’t do so without reliable broadband and mobile connectivity.

BT has warned that organisations that fail to make the switch to newer digital networks could risk missing out on the productivity gains of workplace advancements like AI and augmented reality, which are reliant on faster, higher-bandwidth, future-proofed connectivity.

The move away from the PSTN and onto more reliable digital infrastructure, like full-fibre networks, is a once-in-a-generation, industry-wide programme, recognised as a necessary step by Ofcom and the government.

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Kerry Small, who serves as BT’s Chief Operating Officer – Business, commented: “The UK’s analogue copper telephone network has a proud history, but it’s no longer up to the task for businesses.

“It’s simply too risky to build the economy on a shaky foundation, and we’re calling on all businesses to move before the end of 2025 — well ahead of the switch-off.

“Analogue companies making the move now can benefit from rock-solid digital connectivity to help keep them in business for years to come.”