DSL and copper retirement: what it means for your business internet
From the FAILOVER5 team at Twisted VoIP, Chandler, Arizona · Updated October 2026
Phone companies across the country are asking the FCC for permission to retire copper phone lines and the services that run over them. Most of the attention goes to landlines, alarm panels and fax machines. Fewer businesses realize that DSL internet runs over the same copper, and when the copper goes, DSL goes with it.
Is your business on DSL?
- Your internet bill comes from a phone company, such as AT&T, CenturyLink, Frontier, Verizon, Windstream or Brightspeed, rather than a cable company.
- Your modem plugs into a phone jack with a thin phone cord, not a coaxial cable or fiber line.
- Your speeds are well below what cable or fiber providers advertise in your area.
- Your bill or modem says DSL, ADSL, VDSL or "High Speed Internet" from the phone company.
Why it matters now
Carriers have been filing to stop offering copper services in parts of many states, and in March 2026 the FCC made it easier for them to do so. Copper retirement doesn't always come with much warning. Businesses on DSL are best off planning the move on their own schedule, before a notice forces it.
Your options
Fiber or cable is usually the best main connection where it's available. Check every provider that serves your address; availability has grown a lot in recent years.
Cellular internet can be the main connection where wired options are limited, such as rural locations, small offices and sites where the only wired service was DSL. With a good signal and the right plan, it runs a small business well.
Whatever you choose as the main line, adding cellular backup means the move away from copper doesn't leave you with a single point of failure.
Do not forget the other copper lines
If you have DSL, you probably also have copper phone lines for a main number, a fax, an alarm panel or an elevator phone. Those need a plan too. FAILOVER5 is part of Twisted VoIP, which handles phone line replacements, including Ooma AirDial for alarms and elevators.
You can check whether your phone company has filed to retire copper in your area by phone number, ZIP code or town at twistedvoip.com/phone-line-retirement-check.
Getting started
FAILOVER5 cellular plans start at $88 a month on Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile, month to month. If cellular will be your main connection, look at 100 GB and up, or T-Mobile Ultra 1200 where T-Mobile coverage is strong. Contact us and we'll help you check signal at your address before you order.
Questions to ask when replacing DSL
- Which providers actually serve this address, and with what technology: fiber, cable, fixed wireless or cellular?
- What are the real upload speeds? DSL users often notice upload far more than download once they start using video calls and cloud backup.
- Is there an installation charge or construction needed, and how long is the wait?
- What contract term is required, and what happens if service is poor?
- Will my phone number, fax line and alarm panel need separate replacements, and who handles those?
Get a quote for your business
Tell us where you are and what needs to stay online. We'll check which carrier is strongest at your address and recommend a plan and router. Plans start at $88/month, month to month.
Already know what you need? Build and order it yourself or compare plans. Or call 800-732-0846.