What stops by 1 October, and how customers feel it

Four forced changes land within a few weeks of each other. The dates matter, but the impact matters more. Deadlines trigger stress, and stress narrows attention, so “it still works” becomes the reason to wait.

In rural areas the risk is higher. Mobile signal is patchy, power cuts are more common, and alarms and farm kit often still rely on the old phone line. For someone living alone, a telecare alarm that doesn’t connect is a fall nobody hears about.

Here is each change in turn: what stops, and what to do this week.

Telecoms: analogue line rental at 2025 prices

Openreach’s final 40% rise on legacy line rental lands on 1 October, roughly doubling the 2025 cost. The analogue network itself closes on 31 January 2027.

• Audit every line and every device that dials out.
• Test kit for free at Openreach’s test labs.
• Book SOGEA or full fibre with VoIP before November.
• Add battery backup to lift and alarm lines.

Ends 1 Oct 2026 · Analogue network closes 31 Jan 2027

Search and SEO: Google’s September changes

Google’s September spam update runs across 1 October. AI Overviews and AI Mode keep taking clicks that once reached websites.

• Hold migrations and redesigns until the rollout ends.
• Mark 24 September to about 8 October in your analytics.
• Improve or remove thin, templated pages.
• Decide on the AI Overviews opt-out when it reaches you.

Update from 24 Sep · Can take up to two weeks to roll out

SaaS: Microsoft Project Online

Project Online shuts down on 30 September. After that, Project Web App sites and their data will no longer be available.

• Export every project and its history now.
• Save key plans as .mpp files or PDFs.
• Move live projects to Planner or Project desktop.
• Repoint reports and integrations.

Ends 30 Sep 2026 · Project desktop and Planner are not affected

IT and online: Microsoft 365 on Windows 10

Microsoft 365 app feature updates on Windows 10 stopped after August. Paid Year 1 security updates and Office 2021 support end on 13 October.

• List every Windows 10 PC and Office 2021 install.
• Upgrade machines that can run Windows 11.
• Buy Year 2 security updates only as a short bridge.
• Move to Microsoft 365 Apps or Office LTSC 2024.

Ended Aug 2026 · Year 2 updates double in price, charged cumulatively

If these sound familiar, act this week

• “Our alarm and lift phone still use the old line.”
• “Why has the phone bill jumped?”
• “Our enquiries from Google have dropped.”
• “We still rank well but get fewer clicks.”
• “Our project history all lives in Project Online.”
• “Won’t Microsoft move it for us?”
• “The PCs still work, so why replace them?”
• “Doesn’t our 365 subscription cover this?”

The dates that matter

1. 24 Sep: Google spam update begins
2. 30 Sep: Project Online shuts down
3. 1 Oct: Final 40% line rental rise
4. 13 Oct: Windows 10 Year 1 updates and Office 2021 support end

Where it hurts

• Copper-dependent kit hides in alarms, lift lines, card terminals and door entry.
• Rankings swing mid-rollout, blurring Google’s changes with your own.
• Project history is lost for anyone who hasn’t exported.
• Windows 10 PCs without paid Year 2 updates lose patches on 14 October, and nothing on screen warns anyone.

Start with the audit. Most of the fixes above begin with a simple list you can make this week: every line, every device that dials out, every project, every PC.

Shared for information only. Check the detail with your provider or IT team before acting. Prepared 25 September 2026.