It's Time to Take Action
Telephones have been the backbone of businesses for over 100 years, and the copper wires that connect them are just as historic. They've been in active service since 1876 and have been the backbone of the business world ever since. But that's all about to change.
In 2017, BT's Openreach announced its intention to switch off the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) which is the name of the entire copper-wire phone line network. The whole system is being switched off, and the target date to achieve this was 2025.
That might seem like you've got a long time before any action is required but 2025 is the national deadline. Areas such as Salisbury had their switch off in December of this year!
Why is it happening?
The average download speed in Western Europe is almost twice as fast as the UK's. This fact hasn't gone unnoticed in the chambers of power, and both major political parties in the UK's last election pledged to upgrade the whole UK to gigabit-speed internet by 2030.
Copper just isn't capable of bringing the UK into the ultra-fast future and maintaining two grids, one copper, and one fibre is a costly task, which is why the future consists of one, full fibre grid.
What's so good about full-fibre?
After you embrace full-fibre, you can expect:
- Lower costs and rates when using your telephony
- Much, much faster broadband speeds
- Greater control over how you can use your telephony
- A much more reliable communication system
And most importantly, your connectivity will be future-proof.
What Happens if I leave it too late?
You can:
- Lose your phone numbers
- Have your payment/ PDQ/ billing systems stop working
- Have your CCTV and alarms systems stop working
- Have your business' CRM stop working
Coupled with the disruption that comes with losing access to your phones and internet, this applies to analogue phone lines, ISDN phone lines, ADSL/ADSL2+ broadband and even G.Fast. Furthermore, leaving it late in your area will almost certainly leave you paying a premium during a time of heavy demand.
Hear More From the Experts
With a combined experience of 35 years,
Director of BTT Shiv Passap and Sales Specialist at Gamma Stephen Lees Demystify The Big Switch Off and answer your questions.
Don't miss your chance to hear from the experts and have your questions answered.
FAQ
Q: How long will it take to switch to Full-Fibre?
A: You can expect the whole process to take 5-10 days
Q: Can I keep my existing handset(s)?
A: Yes, via an Analogue Terminal Adaptor (ATA) connected to your router
Q: Can I still use my PDQ machine?
A: Yes, you will need to use a service that runs over broadband
Q: Will I lose my old numbers?
A: Yes you can keep your old number/ numbers
Q: Can I still use my fax machine?
A: Sadly no, we recommend you use a FAX-to-Email service
Q: Will I still be able to use my phones while the transition is happening?
A: Yes, on the day of transition, there will be approximately 5 minutes of downtime as your system is actually switched from the copper network to the fibre network. We find in most cases people don't even notice it.