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Liverpool leads UK cities in digital move

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Liverpool has just six per cent of legacy lines left to migrate ahead of the PSTN switch-off in January 2027, according to new data from Openreach.

Liverpool has the smallest share of legacy phone lines still to be upgraded of any of the UK’s 10 largest urban centres, with six per cent left to migrate before the old copper-based network is switched off at the end of January 2027, according to data published by Openreach.

The figures, which cover major cities and their surrounding areas, come with less than 20 weeks to go before the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN, shuts down.

Manchester is second, with just over seven per cent of legacy lines left, followed by Cardiff with just over eight per cent and Leeds with around 8.6 per cent, Openreach said.

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London has the largest share still to move, at around 13 per cent. Glasgow follows with just over 10 per cent, while Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh each have around nine per cent remaining.

Across the 10 cities and their surrounding areas, Openreach said around 90 per cent of legacy lines, more than six million, have migrated to digital services over the last five years. That leaves around 600,000 lines still to be moved before the PSTN switch-off.

James Lilley, director of All-IP at Openreach, said: “When it comes to preparing for the switch-off, our Northern cities appear to have a head start. But the bigger story is the progress being made right across the UK, with more than 90 per cent of legacy lines across ten major cities and their surrounding areas already upgraded to digital alternatives.”

“That means around seven million copper-based services have made the switch. But with more than 600,000 lines still to migrate, there’s no room for complacency.”

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Lilley said many organisations may not realise how many services other than phone lines depend on the old network.

“Many organisations may have already upgraded their phone line but may not realise how many other services still rely on the old network, from payment terminals and lift alarms to security systems, door entry systems and building management technology. Once the PSTN is withdrawn, those services could stop working unless they’ve been upgraded or replaced.”

“The reality is that the final migrations are likely to be the most complex and business critical. The organisations that act now will have more time to identify hidden dependencies, test new solutions and make the transition smoothly. Those that leave it until the last-minute risk unnecessary cost, disruption and pressure as the deadline approaches.”

Openreach is urging city-based businesses to speak to their service provider, establish which services could be affected and put a migration plan in place.

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“Inaction is no longer about uncertainty but preparedness, and those who wait risk leaving customers exposed to avoidable service disruption. The consequences go beyond technical issues, they can lead to lost revenue, operational difficulties and a poorer experience for customers,” Lilley added.

Nationwide, Openreach estimates around 1.5 million lines are still operating on the copper network, including around 350,000 business premises. It gave the same figures in July, when it warned businesses there were six months left before the network is withdrawn on 31 January 2027 and said there would be no extension to the deadline.

The switch-off has already prompted some firms to look again at their telephony, with Business Matters reporting on small businesses replacing landlines with virtual phone numbers and on the business VoIP phone systems available as alternatives.

Openreach said it has launched a range of migration offers, meaning a move to digital services can often be the more cost-effective option for customers.

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It has also raised prices on its legacy Wholesale Line Rental services to encourage migration. Under the schedule Openreach set out in February, rental charges rose by 20 per cent in April and 40 per cent in July, with a further 40 per cent increase due on 1 October that will leave them at double their 2025 level.

Amy Ingham
About the author

Amy Ingham

Amy Ingham is a reporter at Business Matters, covering UK business news with a focus on breaking news, business policy, late payments and insolvency. She joined the magazine in 2026 after completing the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism at Harlow College’s journalism school. Her recent reporting includes British Steel’s nationalisation and its impact on SME suppliers, the decline in late payments by large firms, and Insolvency Service director disqualifications. Reach her at aingham@cbmeg.co.uk.

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Concentrix: This AI Bargain Stock Could Be The Ultimate Value Trap – Strong Sell (CNXC)

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Executive tracking consumer review metrics and high customer satisfaction scores

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Investing wisely does not have to be rocket science. It is about discipline and running the numbers. You don’t have to be like a grandmaster chess player playing the game twenty moves ahead of your opponent, you just need to understand how the pieces work.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Two leading Cardiff firms relocate from the Bay to the city centre

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Gambit and Acuity Law have moved into the 3 Callaghan Square office scheme

3 Callaghan Square.

Two of Wales’ leading professional advisory firms have moved from Cardiff Bay to the centre of the city to support their respective growth plans.

Boutique corporate finance venture firm Gambit and Acuity Law have relocated to the 3 Callaghan Square office scheme, owned by Cardiff-based property developer Rightacres Property.

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The firms were both located at the 3 Assembly Square office building in the Bay, but utilised respective lease break clauses to move.

Acuity Law said its relocation follows strong trading with revenues on track to exceed £20m in its current financial year.

Steve Berry, chairman of Acuity Law, said:“Our move to 3 Callaghan Square is a clear, visible sign of how far this firm has come, and the scale of our ambition for what comes next.

2In a world being reshaped by technology and AI, we’re continuing to challenge the traditional ways legal services are delivered. That’s helping us win new clients, attract great people and compete on a national stage.”

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Gareth Baker, senior partner, added: “We also see real opportunity ahead: in energy, as investment in infrastructure and the transition to a lower-carbon economy continues at pace; in banking and finance, as businesses navigate a changing funding and investment landscape; and in health and social care, where providers and investors are adapting to major regulatory change.”

On its new location he added: “The new all-electric office space delivered by Rightacres provides us with a great base for our staff and clients and is well connected with our other Acuity offices”

Acuity also has offices in Bristol, Swansea, London and Liverpool.

Gambit said its move to larger offices follows its most successful trading period last year following its establishment 1992.

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It continues to expands its team advising on a significant number of high-profile business transactions across the UK and internationally.

Partner Geraint Rowe said: “Our new Cardiff office at Callaghan Square places us closer to many of our clients, peers and the wider professional community, enabling us to foster even stronger relationships while remaining ideally positioned to support businesses throughout the UK and internationally.”

Partner Jason Evans added: “This move reflects the continued growth and ambition of the firm following a record year for Gambit. The new office provides a modern, collaborative environment for our expanding team and represents an exciting investment in the next stage of the firm’s development.”

Other tenants at 3 Callaghan Square include JLL and Grant Thornton.

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How Today’s Economy Rhymes With The Late ’90s

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Bryan Rich is a macro investor and the founder of Logic Fund Management, an independent research firm known for connecting policy, investor influence, and innovation to real-world positioning. He writes Pro Perspectives, a concise daily briefing read by more than 25,000 investors who want clean signal over noise. Bryan’s framework is practical and repeatable: tracking the policy path (rates, liquidity, industrial strategy), following where elite capital is taking risk (billionaires and activists with operating influence), and mapping the technology cycle (compute, data, energy). From that, he translates big forces into entry points, catalysts, and portfolio construction. Logic Fund Management offers two specialized subscription-based strategies: The Billionaires Portfolio—event-driven value, investing in companies with unlockable assets, activist alignment, and clear catalysts; and the AI-Innovation Portfolio—ownership in the infrastructure and intelligence layer of the AI economy, from data centers and networking to enabling software and robotics. Bryan began his career on the trading desk of a family-office macro fund in the mid-90s, and later at an award-nominated global macro firm. He is known for a plain-English style that blends institutional discipline with real-world execution. Independent. Aligned. Research-driven.

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Penn Entertainment: The Redemption Story That Wall Street Is Mispricing (NASDAQ:PENN)

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Details from a casino

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Investing wisely does not have to be rocket science. It is about discipline and running the numbers. You don’t have to be like a grandmaster chess player playing the game twenty moves ahead of your opponent, you just need to understand how the pieces work.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Lucid: Implications Of The Bolt Deal

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Lucid Motors Headquarters

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Fr8Tech launches AI module to validate delivery documents

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Fr8Tech launches AI module to validate delivery documents

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KDP seeks more wins from Dr Pepper playbook

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KDP seeks more wins from Dr Pepper playbook

BOSTON – With approximately $6 billion in annual sales, Dr Pepper is the largest brand in Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.’s (KDP) portfolio. Two years ago, the brand became the second largest carbonated soft drink brand in the United States, according to Beverage Digest, and KDP management is charting a course to maintain that position and apply the strategies that propelled Dr Pepper to other brands within its portfolio.  

“(Dr Pepper is) the No. 1 brand … among teens today,” said Timothy Cofer, chief executive officer of KDP, during a Sept. 10 presentation at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference. “That’s a good indicator of future health vitality of the brand. And we’re a brand that very much invests in continuous recruitment … to really fortify that share. In fact, year-to-date, we’re on track for share growth, and when we achieve it, it will be our tenth consecutive year of market share growth on brand Dr Pepper.”

Innovations that have helped drive brand growth include Dr Pepper Zero Sugar, Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut and Dr Pepper Blackberry.

“Dr Pepper is now the second largest zero sugar brand in the marketplace and over $1 billion in retail sales,” Cofer said. He added that in the company’s most recent quarter, the variety had a 30% growth rate.

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From a marketing perspective, KDP is attempting to position Dr Pepper as a unique, one-of-a-kind brand.

“I think … a lot of our consumer cohorts … identify with that because they’re unique and one of a kind,” Cofer said. “So, a distinctive positioning, really strong marketing and marketing that we’re investing (in) to get even better, more precise and more personalized, but it’s a hell of a platform.”

7 up.jpg

KDP’s 7Up brand has been reformulated with an emphasis on lime flavor in marketing.

| Photo: Cully Wright

KDP is now applying the playbook that helped Dr Pepper gain share to other brands in its Refreshment Beverages portfolio like Canada Dry and 7Up.

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“Canada Dry (is a) billion-dollar-plus brand; far and away leader in ginger ale,” Cofer said. “(It has a) distinctive positioning; all about the demand space of a relax and rejuvenate time …”

Innovation from the brand includes Canada Dry Fruit Splash, which is the combination of the flavors ginger, cherry and strawberry.

“(We’re) finding that platform to be highly incremental to the base business, driving overall trademark sales, great sales execution,” Cofer said.

With the 7Up brand, KDP has reformulated the product and is emphasizing the lime flavor in marketing.

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“So, we’ve got an all-new formula, lime over lemon,” Cofer said. “We’ve got a new visual ID. We’ve got a really clever marketing campaign. I think that’s part of the success formula you’re going to start to see employed across these brands.” 

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Panera Brands expands Einstein Bros. executive leadership

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Panera Brands expands Einstein Bros. executive leadership | Food Business News

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Semtech: Probably Too Much Optimism

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Headquarter office of Semtech, CA

Semtech: Probably Too Much Optimism

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Why the Purge of Middle Managers Could Backfire

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Why the Purge of Middle Managers Could Backfire
Callum Borchers

We’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Middle managers are on the chopping block at Uber, Intel, Coinbase and other companies. Top executives seem to view them as unnecessary speed bumps on the highway to innovation, and rank-and-file workers love to gripe about layers of bosses who do, what, exactly?

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