The United Kingdom’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) service will be officially switched off in 2025, moving voice communications from physical, wired infrastructure to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This digital transformation in voice communications is born chiefly of the aging PSTN infrastructure but also due to the natural shift toward digitally sourced communications in business and consumer sectors.
Whether you are located in the United Kingdom or operate within the country, it is imperative to begin the process of switching to a digital phone system.
The world is moving toward more digital operations, which include phone systems. While migrating to VoIP might seem daunting, the switch has significant potential benefits. It is much simpler to scale with VoIP, allowing the IT department to add more employees or applications as needed.
It also allows for greater unification of applications, particularly when leveraging the cloud. An all-digital model powered by cloud services means that Software as a Service (SaaS) applications leveraged by your organization is hosted in one location. Not only can phone lines be digitized, but also email and intranet. This considerably lessens the physical data storage load and helps provide backup and resilience in local outages. It also supports remote work, and many organizations have migrated to cloud-based services during the pandemic.
Finally, VoIP can be more affordable for small- and medium-sized businesses and it can also be more robust. VoIP has significantly matured since its early years in the mid-1990s and become even more reliable alongside the development of high-speed internet.
PSTN service supports more than just voice communications, so it is essential for businesses and organizations to determine what other services might be using the analog system, including telecare and critical care systems, fire alarm systems, payment and card processing services, and security systems, including closed circuit TV (CCTV).
Digital phone services are powered by internet connectivity, and this is an area that needs keen attention. Without strong, resilient connectivity, voice communication might suffer in quality. Any other tool connected to the internet might suffer as well because of the shared bandwidth – video conferencing might lag or drop entirely, and tools might go offline. Whether your organization is using wired or mobile connectivity, it is imperative to ensure it can withstand the demands of your organization.
Consider the PSTN switch-off as a major IT project – and oftentimes, major IT projects can take years to implement without successfully having large impacts on business operations. Communication is vital whether your firm is a large enterprise or small business or delivering critical services. Planning and beginning the migration process now can save issues down the line.
The first step is to audit your existing communication services and decide what service to which you’ll move your communication. Implementing the plan might take upwards of a year or more, depending on the application.
KORE can provide the necessary hardware and connectivity needed to keep business communications running seamlessly. With cellular connectivity, landline connections can be replaced with a resilient network that can manage not just voice communications but other cloud-based services.
KORE offers 4G LTE and 5G routers and global cellular connectivity to power business outcomes. KORE gives more details and insights on the PSTN switch-off in this quickfire interview with BT Enterprise. Check out the video to learn more.