As the telecommunications landscape continues to evolve, the UK must move forward and evolve with it. From September 2023 BT Openreach will stop selling their PSTN analogue service ahead of the 2025 PSTN/ISDN switch-off. In this blog post, we’ll provide an informative overview of the PSTN “Stop Sell” policy, its implications, and how it affects both service providers and end-users.
What is PSTN?
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) is the traditional analogue telephone system, employing circuit-switching technology to transmit voice calls over physical copper wires. It establishes dedicated connections for calls, using analogue signals vulnerable to interference. While reliable, PSTN is being phased out due to advancements in digital communication. Newer alternatives like VoIP and cloud-based systems offer more versatile, cost-effective, and feature-rich communication options, prompting a transition away from PSTN. BT announced this transition back in 2018 with a plan that the UK would become fully fibre.
What Is Happening?
From the end of 2025 the UK is planning to be “fully fibre” which means we’ll no longer rely on copper cables and instead the cables will be switched out with fibre optic cables. This will give customers – businesses and end-users higher bandwidth products at faster and more reliable speeds. When the plan was launched, BT decided to set-up a pilot scheme to test the plan, which was carried out in Mildenhall and Salisbury.
How Will The Stop-sell Work?
The “Stop Sell” is effectively a notice warning that Openreach will no longer allow the sale, change or upgrade of copper-based systems after a 12-month fixed period – this will only come into action when at least 75% of an exchange area can access full fibre. However, ideally, From September 2023 no copper-based products will be available, this includes all analogue lines, ISDN lines, ADSL, FTTC and GFast products.
Moving Forward
There are several considerations to take into account when thinking about the future for your business and you’ll need time to assess what options are best for you – luckily this is where we can help. If you’re overwhelmed with the options available, feel free to contact us. We’ll be more than happy to offer advice and detail what to consider.
Existing copper-based lines can transition to either SIP Trunks, Cloud-based Telephony, or established IP-based solutions with a proven track record of delivering substantial returns on investment. Although this transition necessitates thorough planning, it also offers the most significant potential advantages for businesses. This transition presents an excellent opportunity to optimize services, achieve cost savings, and enhance operational efficiency.
Advantages of a Cloud-based Phone System
A cloud-based phone system offers a myriad of advantages that have the potential to redefine how businesses communicate with both potential clients and customers, as well as staff. By leveraging the power of the cloud, these systems eliminate the need for on-premises hardware, streamlining management and reducing maintenance costs.
The scalability of cloud solutions ensures that as your business grows, your communication infrastructure can seamlessly expand to accommodate evolving needs.
Cloud-based phone systems can empower remote work by allowing employees to access features from anywhere with an internet connection, fostering collaboration and flexibility. Furthermore, automatic updates and enhancements ensure that your system remains up-to-date with the latest features and security measures, contributing to operational efficiency and a future-proof communication solution.
Contact us today to discuss how to get ahead of the curve and switch over to a cloud based phone system ahead of the PSTN switch off.
