Could you prepare your business in just 90 days?

In case you haven’t heard, the UK’s ageing copper phone network is finally being phased out. And while the official switch-off date has been extended to January 2027, there’s a big reason why you need to start feeling uncomfortable if you’re still running a copper-based landline or broadband connection.

That’s because from December 2025, Openreach will begin issuing 90-day withdrawal notices for these legacy services. That means your business could be given just three months to find an alternative, which poses a big question: could you really prepare in that time?

Why 90 days isn’t enough

While that extension to 2027 might make it seem like the pressure’s off, it does come with a large asterisk that could catch many businesses off guard.

Try to imagine how you’d cope if you were suddenly given 90 days’ notice that your phone and broadband services would be withdrawn. Depending on how reliant your business is on these services, that 90-day period could become very stressful indeed.

If your broadband or phone system is suddenly flagged for withdrawal, 90 days leaves little time to:

• Review your current services and needs
• Research alternative technologies
• Arrange installations and migrations
• Train your team or test new systems
• Maintain continuity and avoid downtime
• Not fall victim to inevitable price hikes from unscrupulous dealers

When you’re already juggling customers, staff, and suppliers, it can be hard to find the time or resources to manage that kind of rapid transition. And that 90 days might just disappear faster than you think.

The smarter move: prepare now

But there is a better way — taking action before the 90-day countdown begins.

At Zen, we’re helping businesses of all sizes move to more modern, resilient, future-proof alternatives.

For voice, that means all-IP services like CloudComms, a flexible cloud-based phone system that’s ideal for modern working — from the office, home, the hotel, wherever you have an internet connection.

For broadband, older ADSL and FTTC connections are being replaced by high performance full fibre where available, or SoGEA as a modern broadband alternative.

And the good news is that for the vast majority of customers, these technologies are available now — while migrating today means you can move at your own pace without feeling rushed or making panic decisions.

Let’s get ready

With just about six months to go until a 90-day termination notice becomes a real possibility, our advice is simple: don’t wait until you have to act.

If you’ve not made the move to future-proof phone and broadband services, now really is the time to start planning. Talk to our team about the services you rely on today and how we can help you build a smarter setup that supports your business long after the copper switch-off.