Public Switched Telephone Network: Critical National Infrastructure Charter
This document sets out telecoms companies’ approach to protect CNI when the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is retired.
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The retirement of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is a critical programme for telecoms companies and their customers.
The PSTN is increasingly unreliable with higher incidences of user-impacting faults. The move from the PSTN to digital landlines’ is necessary to ensure high quality, resilient telecoms services for the future.
For the vast majority of users, this change will cause little if any disruption. However, this migration will have effects beyond residential landline telephony, particularly for Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). Retaining connectivity for CNI assets with additional needs and mitigating the risk associated with retiring the PSTN will only be possible with collaboration and support. This voluntary charter of commitments sets out further steps that telecoms company signatories will take to protect CNI assets through the migration.