Countdown to Shutdown
Whether you call it 3.33 years or 40 months, the countdown to the PSTN & ISDN switch-off is underway so it makes sense to switch to an All-IP phone system NOW to ensure it’s business as usual after December 2025.
It’s hard to believe but the PSTN network was first started in the late 1800s – that’s nearly 150 years ago. Not surprisingly, it is now worn out, not fit for purpose and is difficult and expensive to maintain. And so, at the end of 2025, BT will be switching off the traditional copper phone lines many of us are so familiar with, meaning all lines will have to be transferred to IP-based networks beforehand.
At the moment this still seems to be the UK’s best kept secret which is very worrying as this switch-off will affect 16 million telephone lines and over two million UK businesses. This is a massive undertaking that really should not be underestimated, so businesses should be making the move to All-IP now to ensure they have everything in place well before the end of December 2025.
What’s happening?
As you might imagine work began on this behind the scenes some time ago, with two test exchanges, Salisbury and Mildenhall, already being fully digital. Other exchanges which are part of the testing programme are also being transitioned currently, with the remaining exchanges being transitioned between now and 2025.
Across the UK products such as analogue phone lines and ISDN will be subject to a stop-sell policy from September 2023 and existing installed analogue products will only be supported until the end of 2025.
Once an exchange is fully digital, businesses with analogue services will be cut off and services you might not expect will cease being operational. These include:
- Phone lines and their numbers
- ADSL and FTTC broadband internet services
- Door-entry systems / CCTV
- Burglar alarms / Fire alarms / Panic alarms
- Fax machines
- Emergency phones / Emergency lift lines
- EPOS terminals
Don’t let that happen to your business.
When should businesses make the move to All-IP?
In order to ensure its business as usual after the December 2025 cut off, businesses have no choice but to move to an All-IP service, either with their current comms provider or with a new one, well in advance.
Many businesses are not even aware this change is coming or will think they can leave it until the last minute. But these businesses face the danger of not being able to find a comms provider with the capacity and resources to switch them over in time.
How can a business move to All-IP?
There are plenty of All-IP methods of voice and data transmission available that are cheaper, faster and more reliable than analogue services.
You might think there’s a lot involved to switch to an IP-based service, such as a VoIP or SIP solution, but a good comms provider will support you every step of the way.
A telecoms company that specialises in hosted telephony can ensure you get the right service for your business as they will evaluate your current requirements and provide you with the scalability for your future needs. Plus, they’ll be able to take all the hassle out of moving over to a new system, enabling you to keep your existing numbers and ensuring there is no impact on the day-to-day operation of the business.
Guidance from the Xcomm experts
Xcomm has a whole range of All-IP solutions to meet the needs of all businesses. The Xcomm team are experts in the cloud telecoms field, providing hosted telephony services for many high-profile customers and call centres. So, why not take advantage of the ultimate telecommunications solutions we provide and embrace this change for the better NOW before the rush when the final countdown begins.
Contact Xcomm to find out more on 03333 447 092 or email us at sales@xcomm.co.uk.
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