BELFAST, Northern Ireland - TelAve -- Yellowcom, a Belfast-headquartered telecommunications provider with offices in Glasgow and Dublin, is calling on UK businesses to act urgently ahead of the national PSTN switch-off in January 2027. With less than two years to go, research reveals that thousands of SMEs remain unprepared — putting communications, customer service, and safety systems at serious risk.

Despite clear deadlines and rising copper line failures, many businesses have yet to transition to modern VoIP solutions. A 2024 Zen Internet survey found that only 18% of small businesses have made the switch, 17% have no plan, and 9% are unaware of the deadline.

"The old network is past its sell-by date," said Andrew Laing, Managing Director at Yellowcom. "BT has already reported a 45% rise in PSTN-related faults. Waiting until 2027 is a recipe for disaster — businesses must act now."

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High-Risk Sectors

The switch-off affects far more than desk phones:

• Healthcare: Over 2.3 million people rely on PSTN-based telecare alarms. Without upgrades, emergency communications for vulnerable people could fail.
• Retail & Hospitality: PDQ terminals, booking systems, and security alarms using analogue lines may stop working, halting payments and compromising operations.
• Construction: Life-safety systems such as lift phones, fire panels, and CCTV backhauls are tied to PSTN. Without transition, critical safety functions could stop without warning.

Awareness Gaps Across the UK

According to Gamma/Cebr, only 44% of Northern Ireland businesses knew about the switch-off as of 2024. London led with 59% awareness. Yellowcom is prioritising support in underprepared regions to ensure a smooth transition.

The Cost of Inaction

Businesses that delay risk:

• Total loss of landline services
• Downtime costing up to £2,400/day
• Emergency upgrade costs up to 3x higher
• Installation delays as demand spikes

Ofcom has confirmed PSTN reliability is already declining.

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Yellowcom's 5-Step Action Plan

1. Audit all PSTN-reliant systems
2. Consult experts on cloud or on-premise PBX systems
3. Start early — aim for 2025, not 2027
4. Train staff and prepare for outages
5. Upgrade smart — benefit from flexible working, improved features, and cost savings of up to 40% with business VoIP

"This isn't just a deadline — it's a chance to modernise," said Laing. "We've helped over 3,000 businesses future-proof their communications."

About Yellowcom

Founded in 2007, Yellowcom delivers expert telecom solutions including cloud phone systems, business broadband, and mobile services across the UK and Ireland. The company was named Best Partner of the Year at the IPECS Global Partner Conference 2025 and is a proud Living Wage Employer.

s.mcclelland@yellowcom.co.uk |  +44 3330 156 651 | www.yellowcom.co.uk