You may be aware that the UK’s analogue telecoms network (ISDN and PSTN) is being completely switched off.
By the end of 2025, all phone lines will be switched off by Openreach. As part of this change, analogue lines will stop being sold completely in just a couple of years’ time in the run up to being switched off altogether.
Your business needs to be ready in plenty of time to minimise the impact. The best way to get prepared is to understand the need for change and embrace the transformation.
What is an analogue phone line?
You might know them as legacy, copper or traditional phone lines.
These are typically used for voice calls and providing broadband.
How will the switch off impact your business?
Your telephone lines, broadband, card payment machines, alarm lines and even security alarms could be impacted by the switch off. You might think you have years to migrate, but you shouldn’t bury your head in the sand. The first phase of the UK’s upgrade process known as “Stop Sell” is happening right now.
This is a gradual process, and many exchanges will be impacted. As an example, 117 exchanges will no longer be able to purchase analogue lines from 29 June 2021. If your business falls into this category, you must start thinking about your options now.
All voice calls will need to migrate to a cloud based solution using VoIP (Voice over the Internet). This could be SIP trunks or a hosted offering.
Traditional broadband is also changing as you no longer need to pay rental for an analogue voice line, this will be replaced with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), which offers a quicker, more reliable broadband service compared with traditional broadband. Most telephone exchanges will be upgraded to FTTP, but where this isn’t available businesses will need to move to a new type of line for broadband, called Single order Generic Ethernet Access (SoGEA) which replaces the current service Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC).
What does stop sell actually mean for your business?
Put simply, you won’t be able to make any changes to your analogue phone and broadband lines following the stop sell at your exchange. This includes adding new lines even where you have existing services.
You’ll need to consider migrating and upgrading your technology and telephony equipment to ensure your business’ services survive the switch off.
What should you do to prepare?
Every organisation with copper telephone lines will need to migrate within the next few years.
You must audit your existing telephone system and review your analogue estate, so you properly understand the implications of the analogue phone line switch off for your business.
View the switch off as a great opportunity to bring your communications suite up-to-date and revolutionise the way you do work.