BT Gives a Call to Action for CNI Providers to Switch Over to Digital Services

Clive Quantrill

As the UK's ageing copper landline network becomes increasingly unstable, Cambridge Management Consulting reports that BT is urging Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) providers to expedite their transition from analogue to digital voice. With the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) nearing the end of its life, organisations face significant risks if they delay planning and execution for this essential upgrade.

Recent data indicates that 60% of CNI providers in the UK still lack a strategic plan to migrate from the legacy analogue network. This statistic underscores an urgent need for action to safeguard essential public services, such as healthcare, water, energy, emergency services, and government operations. The transition is not merely a technological upgrade; it is a once-in-a-generation programme to future-proof communications and improve service reliability.

The PSTN, our communications backbone for over a century, is becoming increasingly prone to faults and difficult to maintain, with recent reports showing a 45% increase in significant resilience incidents. The impact of this transition is wide-reaching, affecting critical systems such as telemetry monitoring sensors, emergency phone lines, telecare alarms in hospitals and care homes, CCTV, intruder and fire alarms and older EPOS machines.

As the below graphic shows, a broad spectrum of devices and services will be affected by the analogue switch off, including ISDN, ASDL and Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) broadband services. The majority of organisations are almost certainly in the dark when it comes to common knowledge of all of the devices affected, lacking the internal expertise and records to identify and audit complex, interrelated legacy systems.

Delaying your PSTN Transition Could Impact Lives

The upcoming switch-off of legacy services will have far-reaching implications, extending beyond voice calls to impact security systems, health and well-being, and the complex network connecting equipment reliant on these services. Delaying action will only exacerbate the challenges, as several factors could significantly increase the complexity of the transition.

Key considerations include:

Number and Location of Sites: A larger or more dispersed footprint adds logistical challenges.

Supplier Involvement: Managing multiple suppliers and contracts can complicate coordination and timelines.

Accuracy of Records: Outdated or incomplete records will hinder effective planning and an audit of equipment.

In-house Expertise: Limited resources or legacy knowledge may slow progress.

Application Variations: Bespoke solutions may be required for non-standard use cases.

Procurement Challenges: Finding new suppliers, contract management, cost reduction; and installation and housing—as well as the removal of redundant equipment.

Budget Control: Adequate funding is essential to cover the cost of changes, including a team to manage the process.

Proactive planning is essential to mitigate these risks and ensure a smooth transition. Organisations that act now will be better positioned to navigate the complexities, avoid disruption, and future-proof their operations.

How We Help Private & Public Organisations to Prepare

Cambridge Management Consulting offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to assist CNI providers in managing this transition efficiently and cost-effectively. Our team of experts is ready to conduct thorough reviews of technology estates, test device compatibility with digital networks, and guide organisations through the switch to more stable and secure connectivity solutions by the end of 2025.

The benefits of moving from analogue to digital networks are substantial, including enhanced stability, security, and operational efficiency. Digital networks offer faster speeds, improved scam protection, and the flexibility to make and receive calls from multiple devices using a single number. These advancements not only safeguard operations but also position your organisation for future growth and innovation.

We urge all CNI providers and all local authorities to act now, rather than wait until the switch-off deadline. By proactively engaging with our consultancy services, organisations can mitigate the risks associated with outdated infrastructure and embrace the long-term benefits of digital transformation.

For more information on how Cambridge Management Consulting can assist with this transition, please contact us to discuss our bespoke solutions designed to reduce costs and allow you to retain focus on day-to-day operations.

Get in touch to discuss your needs and find out more.

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Case Study: A Rapid Strategy Stress Test to Accelerate a Go-to-Market Strategy

by Mauro Mortali • 9 May 2026

We were approached by a global networking systems, services, and software company that specialises in optical and routing solutions. Their technology helps carriers, enterprises, and governments build more efficient and scalable networks, particularly for high-bandwidth applications like 5G, cloud computing, and AI-driven networking. Africa is a key strategic market for this client. They are also playing an active role in advancing outlined 5G technology on the continent, emphasising a focus on routing and switching aggregation components, network slicing, and monetisation. The Opportunity The client engaged Cambridge MC to provide external insight and support to augment and accelerate the progress of their Go-to-Market plans for Africa. We proposed our in-house rapid Strategy Stress Test that delivers key insights across areas of your strategy using a 1–5 health-scoring matrix. The client's aim is to grow market share in the region with a precisely focussed strategy that targets their market with key propositions and solutions. We were engaged to review this strategy and their plans for the region, identifying critical opportunities and gaps with a quick turnaround. Approach We used our Rapid Strategy Stress Test methodology which provides: Target geographies, opportunities, and partners for resource effectiveness and success maximisation Assessment of client's Go-to-Market Strategy including identification and testing of key assumptions Identification of new opportunities and any gaps in the strategy Recommendations on how best to capitalise on the market and accelerate their route to success This included carrying out target addressable and client-addressable market sizing by country for the Optical, Data Centre Interconnect, Routing and Switching portfolios; competitor market share analysis; analysis of current and planned data centre build in the target countries; future trend analysis, including Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental trends by country. We put their GtM strategy and plans through our Stress Test framework, scoring capabilities against best-in-class – across 11 parameters such as Market Potential, Adaptability to Local Needs, Pricing and Marketing & Demand Generation. Recommendations were made against each of the 11 areas relating to opportunities to accelerate their GtM strategy. In order to support effective targeting of resources into key countries, we developed a country prioritisation framework across 15 parameters, such as GDP growth, energy supply, stability of regulatory environment, and ease of doing business. This quantitative assessment was supplemented with the real world experience of our Africa experts.