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Are you ready for the PSTN & ISDN switch-off?
Openreach is retiring the old analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to a fully digital network. This transition is already underway and the plan is to move everyone to a digital service by 2025.
When is the switch-off happening?
By December 31st 2025 the PSTN will be retired and all services relying on it will no longer function. Openreach will stop selling new ISDN lines by September 2023. Businesses still using ISDN or analogue phone lines have a limited period to migrate to another service.
Once the PSTN is switched off by Openreach, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)or analogue phone lines will no longer work. The switch-off will apply to both new installations and all existing phone line extensions.
Even though this announcement was made in 2015, approx. 2 million businesses across the UK are still currently using services that rely on the PSTN and as we move closer to the retirement date, any business still on ISDN will face a forced migration.
What services will be affected?
1. Traditional PSTN landlines
2. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines – Including ISDN2 and ISDN30
3. Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ASDL) broadband connections
It’s not just your phone lines that will be affected, it’s any technology such as those listed below that rely on analogue PSTN/ISDN connectivity, so it’s essential to review the connectivity within your business and the potential impact.
· Phone systems
· Alarms
· Door entry systems
· Card machines
· CCTV
· Lifts
What are the alternatives to PSTN/ISDN?
Over recent years there has been massive investment across the UK, in installing full-fibre networks. This allows the uptake of internet-based replacements for all the affected services – such as cloud-based phone systems.
There are several options to consider as part of a migration from ISDN:
· VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
· Hosted Telephony
· SoGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access)
· FTTP (Fibre to the Premises)
· Lease Lines
What can VoIP or Hosted technology bring to your business?
Upgrading your phone system to the latest VoIP technology at the earliest opportunity will not only future-proof your business against the upcoming PSTN/ISDN switch-off, but it will also provide greater flexibility and enhanced features for your team.
Here are just a few benefits of VoIP:
1. Keep your existing numbers – Port in the numbers your customers know and have new local numbers to help you build a geographical presence.
2. Reduce communication costs – Remove the burden of maintenance contracts or line rental and benefit from generous call bundles and free calls to landlines.
3. Enjoy free mobile & desktop Apps - Our proprietary Communicator App allows users to take their office number with them wherever they go.
4. Maintain a professional appearance - Advanced call management features, which include on-hold music, voicemail, out-of-hours routing, and IVR menus(Press 1 for sales, press 2 for finance etc.),
5. Collaborate effectively - Gain more than just a phone system, with instant messaging, presence settings, CRM integration, and voice &video conferencing included.
6. Freedom to scale - Futureproof your business with a system that scales instantly as your business grows, with new features deployed to your service as soon as they’re developed.
How we can help
Whilst 2025 may seem a long way off, it’s important to start considering your migration options and allow time to transition. Although PSTN/ISDN will become reductant in 2025, BT is ceasing to sell these services later this year. Therefore, services running on PSTN/ISDN lines could be affected before the retirement date, so don’t risk leaving your business exposed.
Remember, it’s not just about calls. You need to review everything you’re connecting to your phone lines, like door entry systems and alarms. The switch-off opens up a whole new world of opportunities, many businesses have already embraced an all-digital model, moving their communications to the cloud, making calls over the internet and embracing video conferencing.
To discuss your migration options from PSTN/ISDN, please contact our business communications specialists at 0207 101 0096 or email contact@itdsmanaged.com
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