Openreach is to stop selling legacy analogue copper-based phone/broadband services in a further 163 locations, covering more than 960,000 UK premises, to help encourage people to upgrade to new digital services over a full fibre connection.
Thu, 3/07/2025 - 11:44
New research from Zen Internet reveals that one in three UK consumers say they won’t trust a small business that only uses a mobile number - putting millions in lost sales on the line as the country’s traditional landline network shuts down.
The Censuswide survey shows that UK SMEs risk losing customers as the landline switch-off looms, and highlights the risks businesses face as the country’s ageing Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is phased out by January 2027.
The switch-off means every business must move to digital voice services - yet many are ditching landlines altogether in favour of mobiles, without realising the trust gap it creates.
According to Zen’s research, 35% of consumers say they’d think twice about trusting an SME without a landline, and nearly half (48%) feel more confident when dealing with a business that has a fixed contact number. Millennials are more likely to see a landline as a sign of credibility.
Richard Tang, Founder and CEO of Zen Internet said: “Consumers may not consciously realise it, but the type of phone number a business uses still affects how trustworthy it appears, and businesses need to rethink not just how they communicate - but how those methods are perceived by the public.
“Delaying the transition to digital voice technology, and maintaining an existing landline number, could lead to service disruptions and increased costs. Early adoption of solutions like CloudComms ensures your business remains connected and competitive in the digital age.”