UK Wholesale Line Rental Switch: What it is
The closure of the PSTN by BT will affect the copper-related legacy access products of Openreach such as WLR (Wholesale Line Rental) and all ISDN products.
Openreach has now begun to issue ‘Stop/Sell’ notices on legacy PSTN/WLR products where the local exchange has reached 75% fibre coverage (broadband). As further Stop/Sell notices are released in connection with the withdrawal of non-Ultrafast products, over 16 million lines in the UK will be affected. Before the closure of the PSTN at the end of 2025, migrate to fibre-based services and protect your broadband connectivity solutions.
The Evolution of Fibre for Broadband Connectivity in the UK
As copper legacy networks are no longer supported by networks, businesses like yours with POS and ATM devices using either TNS Dial or TNSLink will be affected. See below for how this switch will affect your business, a timeline for migration, and how TNS can help.
Need Our Help?
TNS can help you stay ahead of the legacy networks by assisting in the navigation process. Lean more about how we can help you today by reaching out.
Migration Timeline with Essential Dates
Here are the dates you need to know for TNS Dial and keeping Broadband Connectivity.
Customers Using TNS Dial for POS and ATM Connectivity
By December 2025, all merchants must migrate to services that no longer rely on the copper network as the WLR services are withdrawn. TNS can help with this migration, switching previously copper-based services to fibre and Dial supported over IP.
As the deadline approaches, communication providers using the Openreach access products will encourage customers to migrate away from PSTN/ISDN. Where a fibre alternative to PSTN/ISDN is available, service providers will upsell their new IP-based products using fibre alternative options whether fibre to the premises or fibre to the local cabinet. TNS can help you navigate your options for IP support, including:
- IP-enabled Terminals: These can be connected to the IP router via the ethernet port on the router using the provided ethernet cable.
- Non-IP-enabled Terminals or those that connect to the router: These can be connected using the old port for the PSTN cable. This port, known as the ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter), spoofs a PSTN connection but sends all transactions over the IP network.
TNS Support for Your Migration Journey
With our global solutions and local delivery, TNS commits to being the expert in all things WLR switch for our customers. We assure the seamless migration of merchants to IP-based broadband services by:
- Attending UK forums like Openreach’s Industry Working Groups and Ofcom’s All IP Steering Group.
- Providing updates for test facilities or migration of UK network providers.
- Notifying customers when Openreach “Stop/Sell” notices impacting local exchanges are published.
- Providing information on how customers can contact network providers to use test facilities and ensure various terminal types work in the new environments.
- Advise on the risks related to current PSTN services and trends developing during migration.
- Continuing to support customers with information so you can advise your merchants and channel partners of changes.
Commonly Asked Questions About TNS Solutions and the WLR Switch
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Openreach Stop/Sell Mean?
The implementation of a Stop/Sell notification on a local exchange does not mean the existing PSTN/ISDN service will be ceased, only that no new WLR or ISDN based products will be available for new orders from that point.
When Will Merchants Start to See Changes?
Openreach has already identified Mildenhall and Salisbury exchanges as pilot locations to implement Stop/Sell. WLR product withdrawal in Mildenhall and Salisbury happened in December 2022.
How Will This Impact Merchants and Acquirers?
The push to migrate from PSTN/ISDN products has already begun and will accelerate until there is a national Stop/Sell of WLR products in September 2023.
On signing up for a new IP product, merchants will be asked if the current PSTN/ISDN service supports any devices other than a voice phone and that they should contact their service provider with regards to migration of those services on the day the merchant is cutover to the new IP connection. The local access provider will provide the new IP connection to the merchant premises but will not be responsible for resolving the areas of concern highlighted in the PSTN Closure Overview document with regards to the operation of the POS terminal.
Customers Using TNSLink for Managed ATM Connectivity or Retail Store Networks
The Openreach “Stop/Sell” notices will result in the elimination of new customers on the WLR/PSTN services that support TNS’ broadband communications solutions to ATM and POS devices.
Before December 2025, all customer premises operated by POS vendors, ATM operators and deployers will need to migrate to fibre-based services (instead of copper networks) and support alternate IP/broadband solutions.
TNS Support for Your Migration Journey
With our global solutions and local delivery, TNS commits to being the expert in all things WLR switch for our customers. We assure the seamless migration of merchants to IP-based broadband services by:
- Attending UK forums like Openreach’s Industry Working Groups and Ofcom’s All IP Steering Group.
- Advocating with insight specific to the POS and ATM sector with the Ofcom Steering Group and UK standards group, NICC.
- Providing updates for test facilities or migration of UK network providers.
- Notifying customers when Openreach “Stop/Sell” notices impacting local exchanges are published.
- Providing information on how customers can contact network providers to use test facilities and ensure various terminal types work in the new environments.
- Advise on the risks related to current PSTN services and trends developing during migration.
- Working with customers toward finding the appropriate alternative connectivity solution from TNS’ robust catalogue, including:
- Broadband (FTTP, SOGFAST, SOGEA, SOTAP) as the primary connection
- Broadband (FTTP, SOGFAST, SOGEA, SOTAP) as the primary connection with wireless backup
- Wireless as the primary connection
- Wireless as the primary connection with a wireless backup
Understand the New Technology and Take the Next Step
In order to get ahead of the changes coming to Broadband Connectivity, you should complete the following:
- Review your installed base to identify those premises that are of strategic importance to your business.
- Prioritize those locations and the associated PSTN/WLR services that will be withdrawn as Stop/Sell notices are issued.
- Consider other services that support your business which may also be impacted by the Stop/Sell notices.
Contact TNS to Learn More About the Switch
Our experts will help you navigate the switch from WLR so you can focus on growing your business.