Telecommunications Modernisation: Connectivity Timeline

Telecommunications infrastructure needs to be modernised in order to provide a better service to customers, and improve network security, reliability and resilience.

This means that equipment and devices utilising telecommunications networks need to be upgraded and replaced as newer, modernised connectivity solutions replace older ones.

You can find a list of the current dates for telecommunications modernisations supplied by network operators to government, including the dates for each network to be retired. Network operators may make other information available on their own websites.

If you are a business, manufacturer, supplier or consumer whose services utilise any of the below networks, you need to upgrade your services to the latest connectivity solution before the final date provided.

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration

Old analogue landline technology, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is being replaced by digital services which are more efficient to operate and offer improved reliability.

The upgrade to analogue landlines will be delivered by the telecoms industry. All users of the Openreach PSTN will need to be migrated to new services by the 31 January 2027.

The UK’s mobile network operators (MNOs) are switching off 2G networks, to make way for the faster and more efficient 4G and 5G networks.