What is the BT Openreach PSTN and ISDN switch off and how can businesses prepare?

Written by Oliver Rowe, founder and CEO of Fusion Communications

The BT Openreach PSTN [Public Switch Telephone Network] and ISDN [Integrated Services Digital Network] switch off will be one of the biggest changes in the telecoms industry for over 30 years.

The landmark move, announced in 2017, is a significant step towards the UK’s mass IP network migration and will see BT permanently switch off its ageing PSTN and ISDN networks by December 2025.

This will bring an end to analogue phone lines and will move communication technology into an entirely online space, meaning around 16 million lines and channels will need to be upgraded to alternative products over the next six years.

Worryingly, our research questioning 100 UK business leaders revealed 50% of them had no idea that their existing phone and ISDN services will be switched off. These, and thousands of other businesses that are unaware of BT’s phasing out of ISDN technology will ultimately be left without service from 2025 if they fail to switch to an alternative telecoms system.

With the clock ticking, businesses must work closely with their telecoms providers now to find the right solution for their operations and avoid major disruption.

By getting a step ahead, companies can ensure all their requirements for a digital network are met and that they have plenty of time to transition to a new system and get to grips with its features.

Choosing a new solution

All broadband services connected to traditional phone lines will be affected by the switch off and, from 2025, all calls will be made over the internet, meaning their quality will be determined by the strength of the connection.

Therefore, when choosing a new system, ensuring it can provide robust, high-quality internet connectivity, whether it’s fixed or mobile, will be top priority for many firms.

Poor connectivity will have a huge impact on businesses’ communications and productivity, so it is important that they assess their needs now before investing in a new IP voice solution to avoid future frustrations.

When exploring the various alternative connectivity services available, businesses should consider their own unique needs and whether their requirements may change in the future, before evaluating the pros and cons of each potential new solution.

For many firms, migrating to fibre based broadband services will offer greater speed and bandwidth, as well as being more cost-effective and, with many applications and services now hosted by online cloud platforms, adopting IP and VoIP lines has the potential to provide greater scalability and flexibility for businesses both now and in the future.

SIP trunking offers businesses a higher level of control and may reduce costs by allowing them to maintain their current PBX equipment through use of an analogue adaptor or SIP-to-T1 gateway. Hosted phone systems, on the other hand, offer simple installation and minimal onsite equipment, as well as no maintenance responsibility.

Both offer scope for customisation and scalability, though it could be argued that the simple installation and contract management of hosted phone systems makes for an easier process.

Hardware

When choosing a new system, it is also important for businesses to investigate the type and quantity of handsets required.

The growth of hybrid and remote working has increased usage of softphone systems and reduced the number of handsets required for many businesses. However, some could benefit from a combination of VoIP and softphone technology when implementing flexible working.

The switch off won’t necessarily require businesses to replace all handsets and special services. Some special services may have an IP mode, and some legacy handsets can be converted with an adapter, whilst others may have upgrades available via the current provider.

Conclusion

The switch over to digital networks comes at a pivotal time, when the world of work is becoming more and more digitalised, and it will undoubtedly liberate communications from the confines of an office.

However, to minimise disruption and reap the benefits, businesses must not only ensure they have a suitable alternative solution in place, but they also need to provide their employees with support and guidance to use the new system to its full potential.

Preparing now is an opportunity for businesses to re-examine their requirements and find an optimal new solution, making it easy to collaborate anywhere.