By the year 2025, the complete shutdown of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is scheduled to take place. Prior to this milestone, all traditional phone lines and broadband connections throughout the UK must be upgraded to a digital service that operates on an internet protocol (IP) over a fiber-based network. At Broadgate, our team is dedicated to assisting your business throughout this transition, ensuring that your communication systems are prepared for the future.
What is the PSTN Switch Off?
By the year 2025, BT Openreach will be discontinuing the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), necessitating a transition away from PSTN-based services for all users, including businesses.
The recommended alternative is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a technology that enables voice calls and data transmission through an internet connection.
This shift marks a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s widespread migration to IP-based networks, as VoIP core networks are poised to replace all legacy PSTN services within a few years.
Prepare yourself for the future of telephony by replacing your landline with VoIP before the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) undergoes its shutdown in 2025.
What Do I Need To Know?
What Do I Need To Do?
While the complete shutdown of PSTN in 2025 may appear to be in the distant future, numerous areas in the UK will experience the impact much earlier through a cessation of sales for new ISDN or PSTN-based services. In fact, as early as September 2023, purchasing a traditional phone line will no longer be possible in any exchange area. Thus, it is crucial to seize the opportunity now to explore the innovative and future-proof services that are currently accessible to your business.
What Replacement Products are Available?
As we look ahead, the predominant path for telecommunication will be through internet-based IP technologies like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). The future is in fiber-optic infrastructure, supported by broadband services such as SoGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access) and FTTP (Fiber to the Premises), enabling efficient and seamless communication.
What Are The Benefits of Replacing Your Landline?
What Happens to Special Services?
The transition will also have implications for services such as security and fire alarms, telecare devices, retail payment terminals, and network monitoring and control equipment. These services currently rely on specific functionalities of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) that may not be fully replicated in VoIP-based platforms. This could impact both residential and business customers, as well as public sector users. BT has provided a testing facility for manufacturers, and despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and lockdowns, there is already a published list of equipment that has undergone testing on the new All IP network, which can be accessed here.