EPOS and phone-line devices after 2027

Last reviewed: 2026-03-04

Which business devices use the phone line

Several types of commercial equipment were designed to communicate by dialling out over the analogue phone network. If your business has any of the following, they may be affected by the move to digital voice:

• PDQ card terminals. Older card machines that process payments by dialling the payment processor over the phone line. You can usually hear them connecting, a series of tones and static before the transaction goes through.
• EPOS (electronic point-of-sale) systems. Some older EPOS systems use a phone line to send transaction data, update stock records, or communicate with head office. Most modern systems use broadband, but legacy setups may still depend on a dial-up connection.
• Franking machines. Machines that print postage onto envelopes. Some older models download postage rate updates by dialling a central server over the phone line.
• Postage meters. Similar to franking machines. Some connect via the phone line to reload credit or download rate changes.

How these devices connect

The connection type determines whether a device is affected.

• Phone line (dial-up). The device plugs into a phone socket, dials a number, and sends data as audio signals. This is the type that is affected. You may hear it dialling or see a phone cable running from the device to the wall.
• Broadband (Ethernet or Wi-Fi). The device connects to your router, either with a network cable or wirelessly. This type is not directly affected by the phone line change, though it does depend on your broadband staying connected.
• Mobile (GPRS, 3G, 4G). The device has a SIM card and uses the mobile network. This type is not affected by the phone line change.

If you are not sure how your device connects, look at the cables coming out of the back. A phone cable (RJ11, smaller than a broadband plug) going to a phone socket means it uses the phone line. If in doubt, ask your supplier.

What happens after the switch

Devices that dial out over the phone line send data as audio tones, much like a fax machine. Digital voice connections compress audio in a way that is designed for speech, not for data tones. After the switch, a dial-up device may:

• Fail to connect to the remote server
• Connect but drop during the transaction
• Process transactions much more slowly
• Work some of the time and fail unpredictably

According to Ofcom, devices that rely on analogue signalling may not work once the line is moved to digital voice.

How to check your terminal's connection type

1. Look at the back of the device. Is there a phone cable going to the wall phone socket? Or a network cable going to your router? Or does it have a SIM card slot?
2. Listen during a transaction. If you hear dialling tones or modem sounds, it is using the phone line.
3. Check the settings menu. Most card terminals and EPOS systems have a settings or configuration menu that shows the connection type (PSTN, Ethernet, GPRS, Wi-Fi).
4. Ask your provider. Your payment processor, terminal supplier, or EPOS vendor can tell you the connection type and whether you need to upgrade.

Contact your payment provider or terminal supplier

If your device uses the phone line, contact the company that supplies or maintains it. Ask:

• Is this device compatible with digital voice?
• If not, what is the replacement?
• Is there a cost, or is the replacement covered by my contract?
• How long will the replacement take to arrive and set up?

Most payment providers have been issuing broadband or 4G replacement terminals for some time. If you have not been contacted, do not wait. Call them. A card machine that stops working means you cannot take card payments until it is replaced.

Alternatives

• 4G card terminal. Works over the mobile network. No phone line or broadband needed. Good for businesses without reliable fixed broadband or for mobile traders.
• Broadband-connected terminal. Connects to your router via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Transactions are faster than dial-up. This is now the standard for most new terminal deployments.
• EPOS with broadband. If your EPOS system currently dials out, your supplier should be able to reconfigure it to use your broadband connection instead. This may involve a software update, a hardware swap, or both.
• Wi-Fi franking machine. Most franking machine suppliers now offer models that download rates over your broadband. Contact your supplier for an upgrade.

What to do

1. Check every commercial device in your premises. Follow the cables. If anything plugs into a phone socket, it needs attention.
2. Contact the supplier for each affected device. Get a clear answer on compatibility and the upgrade path.
3. Replace dial-up terminals before your line is switched. Do not wait for the device to fail. Replacements can take days or weeks to arrive and configure.
4. Test after migration. Once your phone line moves to digital voice, test every device. A device that appeared to work before the switch may behave differently after it.