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Housing providers and local authorities in the UK must take the PSTN switch off seriously as it marks a pivotal shift in communication infrastructure.
The transition from analogue to digital affects vital services, such as emergency call systems, door entry, and lift lines. If not addressed proactively, residents could face disruptions, and providers may encounter increased costs and potential liability.
Embracing the digital transition ensures continuity of service, enhances residents' safety, and showcases a housing provider's or local authorities' commitment to staying abreast of technological advancements.
- What is PSTN?
- Why the switch off?
- Timeline:
- What does this mean for Businesses?
- Benefits of the switch:
- Challenges:
What is PSTN?
The PSTN, or Public Switched Telephone Network, is the traditional analogue voice telephone system. It's been the backbone of the UK's communication infrastructure for many decades, enabling voice calls over copper telephone lines.
Why the switch off?
The technology behind PSTN is ageing, and maintaining it is becoming increasingly costly and inefficient.
Digital technologies, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and fibre broadband, offer more flexibility, better voice quality, and other services that traditional lines can't support.
Moving to a fully digital infrastructure makes it easier for telecom providers to offer a broader range of services and ensures that the network is future-proofed.
What does this mean for Housing Providers and Residents?
Residents will need to switch to newer, digital-first services. Most consumers will transition to VoIP services or similar alternatives.
Housing Providers will need to assess their current telephone systems. This is where Social Telecoms can begin to help. Many providers still rely on ISDN for their voice services, and these will need to be replaced or upgraded to IP-based solutions.
Broadband becomes essential as voice services move to digital platforms, so a reliable broadband connection is vital.
Benefits of the switch:
Improved Voice Quality: Digital voice services often provide clearer and more reliable voice quality.
Flexibility and Features: Digital services can offer features like voicemail-to-email, video calling, and more.
Cost-Efficiency: Digital services can be more cost-effective in the long run, especially for businesses that make a lot of international calls.
Challenges
Preparation: Both residential customers and businesses need to be aware of the change and make the necessary preparations.
Infrastructure: Some areas might require upgrades in infrastructure to support the new digital services, especially in remote or rural areas.
01
Analogue Assessment
Many businesses rely on PSTN and ISDN for a many different functions, from traditional calls to alarms, lift alarms, telecare and more. It's essential to thoroughly asses the PSTN and ISDN lines in your offices and other buildings.
This involves pinpointing the specific devices plugged into the PSTN lines, which may be affected by the upcoming switch. Such an assessment paves the way for an informed approach to the transition.
6CS stands ready to assist in your analogue assessment journey. We delve deep into your existing services, auditing every detail on your current bills. By classifying line types, service levels, and broadband statuses, we bring clarity to your telecommunications assets.
It's a common challenge for many organisations to keep track of essential lines, often leading to new lines being ordered when 'spare' ones could have been utilised.
Our solution? Providing 'boots on the ground' site surveys. Our team will conduct on-site visits, pinpointing the exact location of each line and its specific function. Trust in our hands-on approach to optimise your transition.
02
Evaluation of Implications:
Post-audit, we’ll have a clearer picture of how deeply integrated PSTN is within your organisation. It's vital to grasp the ramifications of the 2027 switchover as older systems are particularly vulnerable.
We’ll highlight to you which:
Services require transitioning to digital versions,
Lines require updated hardware to function,
Lines are not being utilised and can be disconnected
The shift to digital isn't merely about mitigating risks. It's an opportunity. Transitioning from outdated systems unlocks the benefits of cloud technology, offering enhanced agility, security, and flexibility.
03
Determining the Path Forward:
While 2025 might seem distant, it's closer than you think when considering the size of the task and planning budgets. Working with you, we will consider the optimal solutions for each service and reflect on whether it's an extension of your current connectivity or a complete change.
This might this be a chance to redefine your IT landscape, and 6CS are on hand to help with this.
04
Migration Strategy:
With a clear understanding of your options, it's time to blueprint the migration process. Factors to consider include the Openreach timeline, plus the potential impacts on business operations, and necessary communication to both employees and other suppliers in your supply chain.
Being conscious of Openreach’s timelines is crucial. They've already commenced phasing out new PSTN services in specific regions, and this will only accelerate as the project progresses.
