2026 Price Rises in Effect - What does this mean for your business?

Natalie Strange

Managing Director @ RPS Telecom

April 13, 2026

Industry-Wide Change

Over recent months, we have seen significant supplier-driven price increases across broadband, telephony and network services.

These increases are being driven primarily by Openreach as part of the UK-wide transition away from legacy copper networks and the upcoming PSTN switch-off. As part of this transition, suppliers are investing heavily in full fibre infrastructure, while increasing the cost of maintaining legacy services to encourage migration.

We have absorbed these increases for as long as possible. However, to continue delivering reliable service and maintain quality standards, a pricing adjustment is now necessary.

Openreach Price Rises On Copper Services

To accelerate the move to digital connectivity, Openreach has announced phased wholesale price increases on copper-based products, including Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) services.

The confirmed increases are:

20% increase from 1 April 2026
40% increase from 1 July 2026
A further 40% increase from 1 October 2026

By autumn 2026, these changes will effectively double the cost of traditional copper line rental, well ahead of the PSTN switch off in 2027.

The message from Openreach is clear:

Legacy copper services are being phased out and priced out.

For businesses, remaining on copper will soon mean paying significantly more for technology that is approaching end of life.

Why Copper Phone Lines Are No Longer Viable For Business

As investment shifts away from copper infrastructure, legacy services are becoming increasingly unreliable and costly to maintain. Businesses relying on copper phone lines face:

Higher fault rates and longer repair times
Poor call quality and limited scalability
Reduced support as networks are withdrawn
Incompatibility with cloud services and VoIP

With prices rising and performance declining, copper services no longer offer value for money.

The Digital Alternative: Full Fibre Broadband And VOIP

The PSTN switch off and Openreach price rises create a clear opportunity to upgrade to modern digital connectivity.

Full Fibre Broadband (FTTP)

Ultrafast, consistent speeds
Greater reliability than copper
Supports VoIP, cloud platforms and remote working

VoIP

Business calls delivered over your internet connection
Flexible, scalable phone systems
Ideal for hybrid, mobile and multi-site teams

In many cases, VoIP and fibre broadband already cost less than copper-based services, even before the Openreach price increases take effect.

Legacy Services – Looking Ahead

As the industry continues to move towards full fibre and away from copper-based services, further supplier-driven increases are expected later in 2026 for legacy services.

Reviewing and upgrading these services now will help avoid ongoing cost increases and ensure your business is prepared for the upcoming PSTN switch-off.

Why Choose RPS Telecom for PSTN Migration?

RPS Telecom provides end-to-end support for businesses preparing for the PSTN switch off:

✔ PSTN and ISDN migration planning
✔ Business VoIP phone systems
✔ Full fibre broadband and leased lines
✔ Backup connectivity and resilience solutions
✔ UK-based expert support

We focus on future-proof connectivity, not short-term fixes.

Book Your PSTN Audit or Service Review Today

We would strongly recommend reviewing your current setup to ensure it remains the most cost-effective and future-proof solution for your business.

Book a service review here: Book Your Review

During this review, we can look at your current services, alternative options, and where appropriate, help you move to more modern solutions such as FTTP or SOGEA.

Prepare Your Business for the PSTN Switch Off

Speak to RPS Telecom today to assess your current services and plan a smooth transition to full fibre broadband and VoIP.