PSTN Switch Off 2027: What UK Lift Companies Need to Do

What the PSTN switch off means for lift telephones

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the analogue landline infrastructure that has underpinned lift emergency calls across the UK for decades. BT Openreach has confirmed the full UK PSTN switch off for December 2027 — and decommissioning is already underway in phases across the country.

For lift companies and building owners, this has one immediate consequence: any lift emergency telephone that relies on a PSTN line to make calls will fail. That includes the emergency calls that EN81-28 requires — the calls that connect trapped passengers to an alarm-receiving centre.

When is the PSTN switch off in the UK?

The UK PSTN switch off deadline is December 2027. BT Openreach confirmed this date and the rollout is happening in stages — meaning some areas have already had their PSTN lines decommissioned. If your lifts are in an area that has already switched, your PSTN-dependent emergency telephone may already be unreliable.

What happens to lift telephones after the PSTN switch off?

After the PSTN switch off, any lift telephone that depends on a copper landline will be non-compliant with EN81-28. The standard requires that emergency communication is available at all times — a system that cannot make calls fails that requirement.

The liability sits with the building owner. The responsibility for ensuring a compliant, working emergency telephone sits with the installer. There is no grace period after the PSTN switch off date. The deadline is fixed.

What the replacement looks like

The replacement for a PSTN lift telephone is straightforward: a 4G, 5G or VoIP-capable emergency telephone with a reliable mobile data connection.

The 4G GSM gateway and auto dialler approach used by older lift installations is replaced by a single integrated unit — there is no need to combine separate hardware modules.

SafeLine SL6 supports 4G, 5G and VoIP with automatic fallback between connection types — so if one path fails, the call routes via another. There is no dependency on the building's fixed network or telephone infrastructure.

Paired with SafeLine SIM — a managed, multi-network SIM that automatically connects to the strongest available signal — the SL6 operates independently of any building infrastructure. Over 30,000 SafeLine SIMs are active across UK lifts today.

How EN81-28 compliance is handled automatically

EN 81-28 sets out the full technical requirements for lift emergency communication – including who is responsible, what backup power is needed, and how quickly a response centre must answer. For a detailed breakdown, see our EN 81-28 compliance guide. In terms of the PSTN switch-off, what matters most is the 72-hour test call requirement: with SafeLine SIM, those test calls are automated and logged via SafeLine Orion – the cloud monitoring platform – at no additional charge. With SafeLine SIM, those test calls are automated and logged via SafeLine Orion — the cloud monitoring platform — at no additional charge.

No manual testing. No missed calls. A time-stamped compliance record available on demand.

How long does the transition take?

For an experienced engineer, replacing a PSTN lift telephone with SafeLine SL6 is a single-visit job. Configuration is done wirelessly via the SafeLine LYNX II mobile app — no laptop, no specialist software on site. The SIM is plug-and-play, activated and managed remotely by SafeLine's dedicated SIM team.

How to check if your lift telephone uses PSTN

If you are not certain whether your emergency telephone is connected to a copper landline, there are a few straightforward ways to check.

The most reliable method is to look at how the telephone cable exits the lift car or machine room. A copper pair (two thin wires, usually grey or white) running to a BT master socket or internal exchange indicates a PSTN connection. If the telephone connects to a router or has a SIM card tray, it is likely already on a digital connection.

You can also ask your current maintenance contractor to confirm the connection type. Any maintenance log or installation record should indicate whether the emergency telephone relies on a landline circuit. If no records are available, your lift service provider can test the line during the next visit.

If you manage a large portfolio of lifts across multiple buildings, the most efficient approach is a site audit – going through each installation and documenting the connection type. This gives you a clear picture of scope before you begin the migration.

4G, 5G or VoIP: which option is right for your lift?

There are three main connection types available for lift emergency telephones after the PSTN switch-off. Each has different characteristics depending on the building infrastructure and location.

4G or 5G cellular is the most resilient option for most UK lift installations. The telephone connects directly to the mobile network via a SIM card, with no dependency on the building's broadband or telephone infrastructure. If the building's internet goes down, the emergency telephone is unaffected. Multi-network SIM cards – which automatically switch between available networks – provide additional resilience in areas with variable signal strength.

VoIP routes the emergency call over the building's internet connection. It can be cost-effective where reliable broadband is already in place, but it introduces a dependency on the building's network. A broadband outage or router failure could affect the emergency telephone. For buildings with managed, enterprise-grade connectivity and monitored uptime, VoIP is a viable option. For typical commercial or residential buildings, cellular is lower risk.

VoIP with 4G fallback combines both: the call routes over broadband by default, with automatic failover to the cellular network if the internet connection drops. SafeLine SL6 supports this configuration, providing the cost benefits of VoIP with the resilience of cellular backup.

For most UK lift operators, a 4G cellular connection via a managed SIM is the simplest and most reliable path. It requires no changes to building infrastructure, no router configuration, and no dependency on a third-party broadband provider.

Act before the PSTN switch off deadline

The UK PSTN switch off is not provisional — the December 2027 deadline is confirmed, and the rollout is already underway. Lead times for replacements are increasing as the deadline approaches. Existing PSTN systems in switched areas may already be unreliable.

There is no benefit to waiting.

Speak to SafeLine about replacing your lift telephones before the PSTN switch off — we will walk you through the options for your portfolio. Book a demo →