AT&T has officially begun retiring its traditional copper phone network—and businesses still relying on old POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines need to start planning their transition.
The shutdown is already underway. AT&T stopped accepting many new copper service orders, moves, and changes in 2025 and began permanently decommissioning copper infrastructure in hundreds of wire centers in 2026. The company expects to retire copper-based services across the vast majority of its footprint by the end of 2029.
If your business still has traditional phone lines, now is the time to find out what they’re connected to and what should replace them.
Your Business May Still Have Copper Lines
Even if your main business phone system has been upgraded, you could still have traditional lines hiding throughout your building.
POTS lines are commonly used for:
- Fax machines
- Elevator emergency phones
- Fire alarm panels
- Security and alarm systems
- Entry and access systems
- Emergency call boxes
- Other analog equipment
Some businesses don’t realize these systems still depend on copper until there’s a problem.
That’s why the first step is simple: find out what you still have.
Don’t Wait Until Your Carrier Turns Off the Line
As carriers retire their copper networks, businesses will eventually need to move these services to newer technology.
Waiting until you receive a discontinuation notice can leave you scrambling to figure out what a line does, what equipment depends on it, and what type of replacement you need.
Instead, use the copper shutdown as an opportunity to review your entire business phone setup.
Which lines are still necessary?
Which are you paying for but no longer using?
Which need to be replaced?
And could your primary business phone system benefit from an upgrade at the same time?
That’s where Press8 can help.
Let Press8 Help You Move Away From Copper
You don’t need to become a telecom expert just because AT&T is retiring its old network.
Press8 can help you understand what you have today and determine what needs to happen next.
Our team can work with your business to review your existing phone services, identify legacy lines, and help determine the right path forward.
If your traditional lines are being used for your everyday business phones, we can help you move to a modern cloud-based VoIP phone system.
And we’ll help make the transition easy.
Keep Your Existing Phone Numbers
Changing phone systems doesn’t mean changing the numbers your customers already know.
Press8 can help port your existing business phone numbers to your new system so you can modernize your communications without starting over.
We’ll Handle the Switch
Moving away from an old phone system can sound complicated.
It doesn’t have to be.
Press8 can help coordinate the transition, configure your new phone system, port your numbers, and get your phones ready for your team.
Our goal is to make the switch as seamless as possible while minimizing disruption to your business.
Upgrade to a Modern Business Phone System
Moving away from traditional phone lines also gives your business access to capabilities that weren’t possible with old copper-based phone service.
With a modern Press8 VoIP phone system, your business can take advantage of features such as:
- Advanced call routing
- Auto attendants
- Voicemail-to-email
- Mobile and desktop calling
- Remote-user support
- Call forwarding
- Multi-location support
- Easier phone system management
Instead of simply replacing an old phone line, you can upgrade the way your entire business communicates.
What About Elevators, Alarms and Other Analog Equipment?
Not every copper line is connected to a regular business phone.
If you have traditional lines supporting elevators, fire alarms, security systems, fax machines, or other specialty equipment, it’s important to identify them before they’re disconnected.
Different systems can have different technical, safety, monitoring, and code requirements, so there isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all replacement.
Press8 can help you start by identifying your existing telecom services and understanding which lines need attention so you can develop a transition plan before your carrier retires them.
Start Your Transition Before You Have To
AT&T’s copper shutdown isn’t something businesses need to panic about—but it is something they need to prepare for.
The biggest mistake is waiting until an old line stops working or your carrier tells you service is ending.
Start now, while you have time to understand your current setup and make the transition on your terms.
Still paying for traditional copper or POTS phone lines?
We’ll help you understand what you have, what you still need, and how to move your business communications forward.
Tara has over 8 years experience in business management & business marketing and 5 years of marketing in the field of telecommunications.
