With the UK’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) being permanently switched off, hundreds of thousands of businesses are asking the same question: will my phone number still work? If you already use a virtual phone number — or you’re considering one — the answer is simple. Virtual numbers are completely unaffected by the PSTN switch-off. They don’t use the copper network, never have, and never will.
In fact, virtual phone numbers aren’t just safe from the switch-off — they’re the solution to it. While traditional landlines face disconnection, virtual numbers already operate on the internet-based infrastructure that’s replacing the old copper network. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Short Answer: Yes, They Work Perfectly
If you use a virtual phone number from a provider like Virtually Local, you have nothing to worry about. Your number will continue to work exactly as it does today — before, during, and after the PSTN switch-off. There is no disruption, no migration, and no action required on your part.
The reason is straightforward: virtual phone numbers use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to route calls over the internet. They have no connection whatsoever to the copper telephone network that Openreach is decommissioning. The switch-off simply doesn’t apply to them.
This is the key point that causes confusion. Many business owners hear “all landline numbers are being switched off” and assume that includes their virtual number. It doesn’t. The switch-off targets the technology behind traditional lines — the physical copper network — not the phone numbers themselves. Your local area code, your number, your service — all continue unchanged.
How Virtual Numbers Actually Work
To understand why virtual numbers are safe, it helps to understand how they work. A virtual phone number is a standard UK geographic number — with a recognisable area code like 020, 0161, or 0113 — that isn’t tied to a physical phone line or a fixed location.
When someone dials your virtual number, here’s what happens:
The caller dials your number
They see a normal local number and dial it from any phone — mobile, landline, or VoIP. There’s no indication it’s virtual. It looks and behaves like any other UK phone number.
The call routes over the internet
Instead of travelling through copper wires to a physical phone in a fixed location, the call is routed digitally through internet infrastructure to wherever you’ve configured it to go.
Your phone rings
The call arrives on your mobile phone, a colleague’s phone, or multiple phones simultaneously — depending on your call forwarding settings. You answer it like any other call.
At no point does the call touch the PSTN copper network. The entire process is internet-based from start to finish. That’s why the copper switch-off is irrelevant to virtual number users.
PSTN vs VoIP: What’s Actually Changing
The confusion around the PSTN switch-off stems from conflating two very different things: the phone numbers and the network that carries them. The numbers aren’t going anywhere. It’s the underlying copper infrastructure that’s being retired.
| Feature | Traditional PSTN Line | Virtual Phone Number (VoIP) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Analogue signals over copper wires | Digital signals over the internet |
| Physical infrastructure | Requires copper line to premises | No physical line needed |
| Location | Fixed to one address | Works anywhere with a phone signal |
| Affected by switch-off | Yes — will stop working | No — completely unaffected |
| Monthly cost | £25–£40 (rising in 2026) | From £4.95 |
| Features included | Basic calling only | Forwarding, voicemail to email, routing, recording & more |
Think of it this way: the PSTN is like the old analogue TV signal that was switched off years ago. If you were already watching via Freeview, satellite, or streaming, the analogue switch-off didn’t affect you at all. Virtual phone numbers are the equivalent of already being on the modern platform.
Your Virtual Number Is Already Future-Proof
If you’re an existing Virtually Local customer, there is genuinely nothing you need to do. Your service is already built on the technology that’s replacing the PSTN, not the technology that’s being replaced.
Every feature you currently use will continue to work identically:
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Call forwarding will continue routing calls to your chosen phones without interruption.
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Voicemail to email will keep delivering audio messages to your inbox as normal.
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Time-of-day routing will maintain your configured schedules and call rules.
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Call recording and call history will remain fully operational.
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Your online portal will continue giving you full control over your numbers and settings.
The PSTN switch-off is actually creating a surge of demand for virtual numbers as businesses look for alternatives to their traditional lines. If you’re already set up, you’re ahead of over 500,000 businesses that still need to make the switch.
You Can Port Your Existing Landline Number
One of the biggest concerns for businesses facing the PSTN switch-off is losing a phone number they’ve used for years — a number printed on vans, business cards, signage, and directory listings. The good news: you can port your existing landline number to a virtual number provider and keep using it as if nothing has changed.
When you port a number to Virtually Local, we transfer ownership of that number from your old provider (BT, Sky, TalkTalk, etc.) to our VoIP platform. The number itself stays exactly the same. The only thing that changes is the technology carrying the calls.
Request the port
Tell us the number you want to keep. We handle the entire porting process with your current provider — there’s no complicated paperwork on your end.
We transfer the number
The number moves from the copper network to our internet-based platform. The process is seamless, with minimal downtime.
Calls work as normal
Customers dial the same number they always have. They notice absolutely no difference. The call simply reaches you via the internet instead of copper wires.
Virtually Local offers free number porting. You keep the number your customers know and trust, it works on modern infrastructure, and you save money compared to your old line rental. There’s no reason to wait until your PSTN line is disconnected — port your number now and get ahead of the rush.
Features You Actually Gain vs a PSTN Line
Far from losing anything in the transition, businesses that move from a traditional PSTN line to a virtual number gain a significant upgrade in functionality. Old copper lines were basic — they could ring a phone in a fixed location and that was about it. Virtual numbers come with a full suite of business-grade features included.
| Capability | Traditional PSTN Line | Virtual Number |
|---|---|---|
| Forward calls to a mobile | Limited / extra cost | Included as standard |
| Voicemail delivered to email | Not available | Included |
| Route calls by time of day | Not available | Included |
| Record calls | Requires separate equipment | Built in |
| View call history online | Not available | Full online portal |
| Call whisper | Not available | Included |
| Make outbound calls showing your number | Only from the physical phone | From any phone via the outbound calling app |
| Manage settings remotely | Not possible | Anytime via online portal |
The switch from PSTN to virtual isn’t a compromise — it’s a substantial upgrade. You get more features, more flexibility, and more control, all at a lower monthly cost. Businesses that have already made the switch consistently report that they wish they’d done it sooner.
No Hardware, No Engineers, No Disruption
Another advantage of moving to a virtual number — whether you’re migrating from a PSTN line or setting up fresh — is that there’s no physical equipment involved. No desk phone to buy, no router to configure, no engineer visit to schedule.
Your virtual number forwards calls to your existing mobile phone. That’s it. The phone you already carry in your pocket becomes your business landline. You can also forward to multiple phones, a colleague’s number, or any other UK phone number.
Compare this to the alternatives some businesses are being offered for the PSTN transition. Many providers are pushing VoIP desk phones that require new hardware, installation, and configuration. A virtual number from Virtually Local requires none of that. If you have a mobile phone, you’re ready to go.
Common Concerns Answered
Despite the simplicity of virtual numbers, business owners naturally have questions. Here are the concerns we hear most often, along with honest answers.
“Do I need special equipment?”
No. You just need your existing mobile phone. Calls to your virtual number are forwarded to your mobile (or any other phone you choose) automatically. There’s no app required to receive calls, no special handset, and no broadband dependency at your premises.
“Will callers know it’s a virtual number?”
No. The call experience is completely seamless. Callers dial a normal local number, hear it ring, and you answer. The call quality is identical to any other phone call. There is no indication whatsoever that the number is virtual. As far as your customers are concerned, they’re calling a standard local business line.
“Is the call quality reliable?”
Absolutely. Virtual numbers have been used by UK businesses for years and the technology is mature and proven. Call quality is indistinguishable from traditional calls. The call forwards to your mobile over the standard phone network, so quality depends on your normal mobile signal — exactly the same as any other call you receive.
If you want to make outbound calls that display your virtual number on the recipient’s phone, you can use the Virtually Local outbound calling app. This means customers always see your professional local number, whether you’re calling them or they’re calling you.
Getting Started Before the Switch-Off
Whether you’re replacing an existing PSTN line or setting up a new business number, getting started with a virtual number takes just a few minutes. There’s no waiting for engineers, no installation window, and no downtime.
Choose your number
Pick a local area code that matches your business location, or choose numbers in multiple areas if you serve a wider region. Your number is activated instantly.
Port your old number (optional)
If you have an existing landline number you want to keep, we’ll port it for free. Your customers won’t need to update their records — they’ll keep calling the same number they always have.
Configure your call handling
Set up call forwarding, time-of-day routing, voicemail to email, and any other features you need through your online portal. You can adjust everything at any time.
Start taking calls
Your virtual number is live. Calls forward to your mobile, your team, or wherever you need them. Cancel your old PSTN line rental and start saving immediately.
With over 500,000 businesses still needing to migrate away from the PSTN, demand for virtual numbers is increasing rapidly. Porting requests are likely to surge as the switch-off deadline approaches, so acting sooner rather than later means a smoother, faster transition.
The Bottom Line
The PSTN switch-off is a significant change for businesses still using traditional copper landlines — but it’s a non-event for virtual phone number users. If you already have a virtual number, you’re already on the right side of this transition. If you don’t, now is the ideal time to make the switch.
Virtual phone numbers aren’t affected by the switch-off because they were never part of the copper network in the first place. They’re built on the modern internet infrastructure that’s replacing the PSTN. They’re cheaper, more flexible, packed with features, and — most importantly — completely future-proof.
Virtual phone numbers are the simplest, most affordable solution to the PSTN switch-off. You keep your local area code, gain powerful business features, pay from just £4.95 per month, and never have to worry about copper network deadlines again. Port your existing number for free or choose a new local number and be set up in minutes. For more on the switch-off, read our guides on the PSTN switch-off explained, what happens after 2027, and how to replace your landline before the copper network closes. You can also learn more about how virtual numbers compare to traditional landlines.
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