Back in 2015, BT announced that the UK’s PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) will be turned off for good in 2025.
For both businesses and residential users, this means their copper-based phone line will no longer work. Everyone will move to digital or internet lines using fibre optic connections.
As well as voice, this will also affect some security systems, fax machines, EPOS – anything using the old copper infrastructure to send data.
Whether this is news to you, or you’ve come here to learn more, there’s no need to panic. We’re here to tell you what you need to know, and help you plan for what’s next.
Both are based on old technology and infrastructure, which can no longer keep pace with the demands of modern life and communications. Not only that, but it’s also costly to maintain, and of course these costs can get passed on to customers.
Changes to the way we use technology to communicate have come thick and fast. Just think about how using smartphones, apps, the cloud, video calling, and remote working have quickly become the norm at home and in the workplace.
We’re also lagging many other countries when it comes to switching to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), with the likes of Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway all ahead of us. Believe it or not, in Estonia they switched off their PSTN and ISDN in 2016!
VoIP and SIP (Session Interface Protocol) are cheaper and more flexible options, with easy access to the advanced features that people and businesses need to stay connected.
Well, if you haven’t switched to IP telephony already, the good news is that you don’t need to rush into anything. There’s still plenty of time to figure out what will work best for you.
From a consumer point of view, if you’re already using BT for a residential landline, they’ll get in touch with you closer to the time and help you through the switch to BT Cloud. Other providers will likely do similar.
For businesses, there are many more factors to consider. You’ll want to assess the requirements of your workforce now, and it’s a good opportunity to consider how you might harness the new technology available to increase productivity and make communication more effective.
But it’s not only about where you are now. The great thing about IP telephony is that it can easily scale to suit future growth. So, you should think about where your business might be in the next few years, too.
Having said that, now might be the perfect time to get the ball rolling, especially if your existing contract and systems are due for renewal anytime soon.
Many businesses have already made the switch to VoIP, and there are plenty of reasons not to hang on until the big switch off.
By switching to IP telephony now, you’ll not only be fully prepared for 2025, but you’ll be able to take advantage of powerful and flexible solutions that will keep your people connected, wherever they are.
It might be a case of upgrading your existing phone system, or you could even switch to a cloud-based one. And if this is the case, you might want to consider whether your broadband service is up to scratch, too.
Hosted telephony comes with features such as caller ID, call waiting, mobile twinning, remote voicemail access, address books, call groups, CRM integration, hold music and more. These are all easily controlled, configured, and monitored through a central portal.
With solutions for desktop and mobile, VoIP systems are also perfect for the modern workforce. Whether your people are in the office or on the move, they’ll be able to put your customers first.
And perhaps the icing on the cake – switching to VoIP now could save you money too!
We’re specialists in providing VoIP for businesses of all sizes. As well as identifying the right hosted telephony solution for you, we can assist with powerful devices to make the most of your system.
Find the right hosted telephony solution for everyone in your business, no matter where they are.
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