For many small businesses, the trusty old telephone system has been working “just fine” for years. It’s familiar, it does the job and changing it can feel like an unnecessary disruption. But there’s a hidden problem: that legacy PBX or analogue phone system sitting in your office is not just old-fashioned it’s a growing risk to your business.

In fact, continuing to rely on unsupported systems could leave you exposed to mounting costs, security risks, and, in just a couple of years’ time, a complete loss of service. Here’s why.

No More Support or Security Updates

When a system is no longer supported by its manufacturer, the updates stop coming.

That means:

  • No bug fixes if something goes wrong.
  • No security patches to protect against new threats.
  • No replacement parts when hardware fails.

We’ve already seen several big names step back or fully withdraw from the on-premises PBX market:

  • Toshiba closed its telecoms division in 2017.
  • Samsung announced its withdrawal from the PBX and telephony market in 2019.
  • Avaya repositioned as a cloud-first provider in 2020, with limited support for older hardware.
  • Panasonic exited the business communications market entirely in 2021.
  • NEC confirmed in 2023 that it would stop selling on-premises PBXs in many regions, shifting its focus to cloud and UCaaS.
  • Mitel entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this year and is undergoing restructuring, raising uncertainty for customers relying on its legacy on-premises systems.

Every one of these moves reduces the pool of supported systems – and if your business is still relying on one of them, your phone system is already on borrowed time.

Cyber criminals often target old, unpatched systems precisely because they know the weaknesses are easy to exploit. A single breach could mean lost data, regulatory fines, or reputational damage – a high price for “saving money” on upgrades.

Higher Costs for Repairs and Maintenance

Finding someone who can fix or maintain a legacy PBX is becoming harder and more expensive. The pool of engineers who know how to work on these systems is shrinking fast. Even when you find one, sourcing parts can be slow and costly – sometimes requiring refurbished or second-hand components that aren’t guaranteed to last.

What used to be a quick service call can easily turn into an expensive and disruptive headache.

Limited Features Compared to Modern Systems

Your legacy phone system was designed for a different era of business communication. Today, teams need flexible tools like:

  • Remote and mobile working options.
  • Integration with video calls, instant messaging, and collaboration apps.
  • Call reporting and analytics.

With an old PBX, you’re stuck with a system that can’t keep up with how customers and staff expect to connect. This makes your business look less professional and can put you behind competitors who have already modernised.

The BT Switch-Off Deadline: January 2027

Perhaps the biggest risk of all is the end of the UK’s analogue phone networks. BT is switching off the PSTN and ISDN networks in January 2027. That means:

  • Analogue phone lines will no longer work.
  • Legacy PBXs that rely on them will stop functioning.
  • If you haven’t moved to a digital or cloud-based alternative, your phones will simply go dead.

That’s not a risk you can afford to ignore.

The True Cost of Doing Nothing

It’s tempting to think “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” But doing nothing could mean:

Paying for costly emergency fixes when the old system fails.
Lost productivity while staff can’t make or take calls.
Frustrated customers who can’t reach you.
A rushed, last-minute replacement at higher cost and greater disruption.

The Safer, Smarter Move

By planning your transition now, you avoid unnecessary costs and disruption. Modern cloud-based phone systems offer:

  • Lower running costs and predictable monthly pricing.
  • Built-in security and regular updates.
  • Flexibility for office, home, or hybrid working.
  • A system that grows with your business.

Most importantly, you’ll future-proof your communications before the BT switch-off in 2027.

Final Thought

Your old PBX may still be “working,” but it’s quietly becoming a liability. With manufacturers like Toshiba, Samsung, Avaya, Panasonic, NEC and Mitel scaling back or exiting on-premises telephony, support is drying up. Unsupported, insecure, expensive to fix, and soon to be obsolete – it’s not worth the risk.

Now is the time to explore your options, budget for change, and put a plan in place. Because when January 2027 comes around, the last thing your business needs is silence at the end of the line.

Contact us today to book your free telephony audit and explore how we can future proof your communications.

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