If you’ve been paying attention to the UK communication industry for any amount of time, you’ve probably already heard about the upcoming PSTN / ISDN switch-off.
There’s been a lot written about it over the years. And it’s generally geared around making you panic, directing you to upgrade your phone system right this second.
At uCall we want to look past the hysteria, and just present you with the facts you need to navigate the switch-off. Although you may need to change the systems you use, there’s enough time left to ensure you get the right deal.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is the switch-off?
BT announced back in 2015 that in 2025 all traditional landline phone services, PSTN and ISDN, would be switched off. It’s a gradual process, with plenty of exchanges already no longer in operation. The 2025 deadline is the final cut-off point though, and that’s what we’re helping businesses to prepare for.
The PSTN and ISDN lines that are switching off have supported UK homes and businesses for decades. PSTN and ISDN allow you to transmit your voice between two locations, a phone call. PSTN only hosts one call per line at any one time. ISDN is a digital upgrade that allows much more calls at any one time.
Although some parts of the world don’t even have access to these lines yet, here in the UK they’re widely considered 20th century tech. That’s why BT has made the move to replace them with internet-enabled VoIP and SIP lines.
Luckily there’s a lot of benefits to these new services, and upgrading to them is an easy process.
How will the switch-off affect your business?
The answer to this question really depends on how much you’ve done your homework. If your business still uses landlines, they’ll be switched off by 2025, which could risk you losing your company numbers. The same goes for other services powered by these lines, including access control, CCTV, fax machines and FTTC broadband.
It’s worth reviewing the systems you currently use to take stock of what relies on traditional lines, or if you aren’t sure, contacting the experts!
What comes after the switch-off?
Your business will have to move away from landlines sooner or later. The real decision is what you switch to.
Due to the availability of high-speed fibre broadband in the UK, BT has decided that internet-based lines are the way forward. The two options you have available to you are SIP and VoIP lines.
SIP is great for businesses looking to get ahead of the switch-off without completely overhauling their comms infrastructure. You can even keep your existing phone system. If you want to make some real improvements to your business communications, you’ll want to take a look at VoIP.
VoIP, or voice over internet protocol, is the service that most modern businesses are looking to move over to, if they haven’t already. It allows you to host calls the same way you’d send an email. VoIP has a huge number of benefits, from being able to be accessed from any environment to free calls, to a better sense of scalability.
The benefits to making the switch sooner
It seems like a big change to move to a new communications system, especially if you have a contract already. We believe that the benefits to moving to a modern system can make a real difference for your team, your business and your customers.
Price is what will stand out immediately. Making the switch to an internet-based service means paying one predictable monthly fee for your entire comms infrastructure. That’s everything from your licenses, to maintenance, to any apps or additional services you want to make use of. Capital expenditure is reduced from the outset, with no expensive hardware to purchase or maintain.
Making the switch also allows your business to start embracing flexible working. Over the pandemic we saw how valuable working from home can be for businesses, as long as you have the right equipment supporting you. Our VoIP systems can work just as well from home as they can in the office.
How uCall can help
We’re helping businesses to get ahead of the switch-off. At uCall our team has years of experience with implementing VoIP and cloud communication services. We’ll work alongside your team to review what you already have, work out gaps in your infrastructure and design a tailored solution that fits your needs.
Even if you’d just like some impartial advice on how your business can get ahead, give us a call on 0330 333 5003. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
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