LEIA tells building owners to check lift emergency lines before PSTN closes on 31 January 2027

The Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) has urged building owners, property managers and facilities managers to check their lift emergency communication systems before the UK's analogue phone network is retired by 31 January 2027.

The trade body said owners and those responsible for lift maintenance should not assume existing lift alarm systems will keep working after the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switchover, and should make sure a local power supply is available.

LEIA said the switch-off affects lift emergency lines in both residential and business buildings. Unlike the PSTN, digital lines need mains power, so it recommends battery backup for emergency calls.

Micky Grover-White, Head of Technical at LEIA, said: "Lift emergency communications are an essential safety feature. It is vital that building owners understand whether their existing systems will be affected and take appropriate steps to ensure they continue to operate reliably."

The four steps

LEIA set out four actions it wants taken immediately. The first is to contact the communications provider to understand what is changing on the line and what alternatives will keep the alarm working.

The second is to contact the lift maintenance provider for advice on equipment that can be fitted, and to check the alternative is compatible with the model of lift alarm installed. LEIA said this will typically be a GSM solution with a battery backup.

Third, LEIA recommends a 4G solution, including a SIM card, when upgrading devices, because 2G and 3G are also due to be withdrawn in the coming years. Finally, it said systems should be tested with their battery backup before full migration.

The association also pointed readers to the government's guidance on the transition to digital landlines, its own earlier digital switch warning on lift alarm calls, and a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology letter to building managers circulated through LEIA.

Mobile network switch-offs

LEIA said 2G and 3G are also due to be withdrawn in the coming years. Separately, Ofcom says 3G networks are now switched off and that all mobile network operators have confirmed to the government they will switch off 2G by 2033 at the latest.

According to the regulator, EE has announced it will begin switching off its 2G network from May 2029, O2 will start in summer 2029, and VodafoneThree will switch off the Vodafone 2G network during 2030. Ofcom warns that devices such as care alarms, security alarms and payment terminals may use 2G and might need upgrading.

The deadline

Openreach says all traditional phone lines will go digital on 31 January 2027. In July 2026 it said there was no extension to the deadline, and estimated about 1.5 million lines, including about 350,000 business premises, were still on the copper network. By 24 September 2026 it put the figure at about 1.2 million lines, again including about 350,000 business premises.

Openreach lists lift emergency phones, door entry systems and fire alarm monitoring among the equipment connected to phone lines that businesses need to check. It says digital phone lines rely on power and broadband, so may not work in a power cut without a backup power solution.

James Lilley, Managed Customer Migrations Director at Openreach, said: "No one should wait for the PSTN to close before upgrading."

Openreach has confirmed safeguards for the final closure, including measures to preserve eligible broadband connections and pricing for its temporary emergency phone service. Customers who have not switched may be moved to a temporary Emergency Voice and Access Continuity (EVAc) service that keeps basic voice calls working for a limited time.

Background

The telecoms industry announced its intention to retire analogue networks including the PSTN in November 2017, according to government guidance, which describes the migration as industry led with government working alongside the sector. The guidance says the networks have reached the end of their serviceable life and expects the upgrade to be complete for most customers by January 2027.

The government cites Ofcom data showing 20% more service incidents on the PSTN in 2023 than in 2022, with a 60% rise in service hours lost to customers. Its guidance for local authorities lists lifts and elevators among affected systems and says over two thirds of UK landlines have already been upgraded to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).