Business communications in 2026. What you need to stay connected and compliant

November 26, 2025

The way businesses communicate has changed forever. As we enter 2026, hybrid working, rising customer expectations, stricter compliance requirements, and increasing cyber threats mean the traditional comms stack is no longer enough. The businesses that will thrive are those that invest in a future-ready communications infrastructure, one that keeps teams connected, enhances customer experience, and meets regulatory demands.

So what exactly do businesses need to stay ahead? Let’s break down the key trends and necessities shaping modern communications.

Unified communications

The days of juggling multiple tools and platforms are over. Unified communications (UC) brings voice, video, messaging, conferencing, and collaboration tools together into a single, secure environment, boosting productivity and reducing friction across departments.

Key components include:

• Hosted Telephony: Cloud-based voice solutions replacing traditional phone systems, enabling flexible working and improved scalability.
• Microsoft Teams Integration: Teams is now a business-grade collaboration hub with voice, video, document sharing, and presence management.

Why it matters:

UC is a strategic move toward operational agility, cost reduction, and enhanced employee experience. Businesses adopting UC report faster project delivery, stronger internal communication, and higher customer satisfaction.

Compliance and CX

Regulation is tightening, and customer expectations are rising. In 2026, communications are about connecting and, at the same time, about protecting data, preserving records, and delivering outstanding experiences in every interaction.

Modern infrastructure must include:

• Contact centre technology: Enabling real-time interaction across channels with intelligent routing, analytics, and workforce optimisation.
• Call recording: Essential for regulatory compliance, dispute resolution, audits, and quality assurance. Advanced solutions now include AI-driven transcription and sentiment analysis.

Why it matters: From financial services to healthcare and professional services, businesses must prove they are compliant, secure, and focused on service quality. The right tools protect your business and your reputation.

Connectivity is the foundation of all business communications You can have the best collaboration tools in the world, but without solid connectivity, productivity grinds to a halt. Today, connectivity is no longer infrastructure, it’s business-critical.

Across all industries, decision-makers are prioritising:

• Faster, more resilient networks
• Cyber-secure connectivity as standard
• SD-WAN and intelligent routing for performance and stability
• Guaranteed uptime and service-level agreements

Why it matters:

Connectivity supports every voice call, video meeting, customer conversation, and cloud-based application. Without it, operations falter. For Dataquest’s clients, it’s the bedrock of seamless business continuity.

PSTN switch off

By December, BT Openreach will switch off the UK’s traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), meaning all legacy telephony services must migrate to digital alternatives, or risk losing voice services entirely.

What this means for your business:

• Analogue phone lines will no longer be supported
• Anything running on PSTN (fax machines, alarms, lifts, door systems) must be reviewed
• Hosted telephony and VoIP migration planning is essential before it becomes urgent Why it matters:

This is an opportunity to upgrade to smarter, scalable communications. Early migration means smoother transition, stronger compliance, and long-term cost savings.

The takeaway? 2026 demands intelligent, connected, compliant comms.

To stay competitive, businesses must align their communications strategy with wider digital transformation goals. In 2026, success comes from agility, reliability, compliance, and a partner who can navigate it all.

Your communications checklist for 2026:

Unified communications with hosted telephony and Microsoft Teams

Contact centre capabilities that prioritise CX and compliance

Call recording built for auditability and service quality

Business-grade connectivity you can rely on

A migration plan for the PSTN switch-off, before deadlines hit

Want to assess your communications readiness for 2026?

Dataquest Group can help audit your current infrastructure and guide you through a strategic migration plan, from modern connectivity to fully unified comms and compliance solutions.