What are the benefits of the PSTN Switch-off?
It’s likely by now that you’ve heard about the PSTN switch-off and how it will affect your business (and home). PSTN and ISDN lines will be switched off in 2025 with all lines and services connected to them affected as well. Broadband services will also be affected with traditional ADSL and FTTC also being switched off and businesses needing to switch to full fibre.
This means you will have to change your current phone line and internet services over to VoIP and fibre. This may sound like a lot of hassle but the fact is, the old PSTN and ISDN services have become very outdated so it’s time to make way for new technology which will lead to better, more reliable communication. Let’s take a look at all of the benefits of the switch-off and what these newer technologies can bring to your business.
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What are PSTN and ISDN?
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network): This was originally made up of the traditional copper wire telephone system which was designed for analogue voice communication.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): This was then introduced within the PSTN in the late 1980s, a digital version of the analogue phone line which allows the transfer of voice and data over PSTN copper lines.
To find out more details, read our blog UK’s PSTN Switch off: All of Your Questions Answered
What are VoIP and SIP?
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is the term for calls which are made over the internet rather than via wires, as they are with PSTN and ISDN. The speakers’ voices are converted into a series of digital packets which are transmitted across the internet.
SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol and is the signalling protocol technology that allows voice traffic to be carried over the internet.
Benefits of the PSTN Switch-off
Although the switch-off isn’t happening until 2025, there are many advantages to changing over to VoIP services before then. You will avoid the rush and stress that any tech switchover brings and will be able to take advantage of all of the features of VoIP sooner, enjoying a more efficient way of communicating. Your VoIP service will integrate with your CRM system and provide your employees with more flexibility, enhancing productivity across your business.
If you, like 25% of UK business decision-makers, weren’t aware of the switch-off, it’s a good time to weigh up your options to get the most suitable VoIP and fibre broadband solutions for your business needs.
Let’s explore all of the other benefits of the switch-off…
Cost savings
Your costs are likely to decrease significantly when you change over from ISDN to VoIP. This is because the way the SIP network which VoIP services are transmitted across has been built has made the management of the network much more cost-effective to house and run, meaning that it is much cheaper. Most businesses will save around 50%, with line rental at at least half the price per month of ISDN lines. This alone is a big reason to switch across to SIP and VoIP services, saving you a significant amount of money over the next three years before the PSTN network is disabled and you have to make the change.
Resilience
You won’t have to worry about roadworks disrupting your phone service anymore. With ISDN telephony, when work is being carried out on the roads, phone lines can get damaged. However, as SIP is carrying your voice traffic over the internet, you aren’t reliant on physical lines. This means that as long as you have internet, your phone services will be running.
Improved call quality
The quality of your calls will increase with VoIP, provided you have the right type of connectivity. Calls will sound clearer and sharper, which is good for business calls.
More flexibility
With SIP, your phone numbers are no longer fixed to a set location, making things a lot more flexible. You can easily transfer calls to different locations which is very useful if you have offices or sites in multiple locations and hybrid working in place. VoIP solutions are also easily scalable, so it can be scaled up with the growth of your business.
Full Fibre (FTTP)
Getting full fibre broadband means that you will have a much faster connection speed and your connection will be more reliable. Your connection will typically be 10-15 times faster than your old connection which will improve all-round business efficiency.
Unified Communication
Introducing VoIP can be the first step in introducing your business to the world of unified communications. Platforms like Microsoft Office and Microsoft Teams allow you to integrate your SIP and hosted telephone system. With these types of integrations, you will be able to collaborate more effectively within your company through cloud-based communication software, increasing productivity and further facilitating remote working.
Now you have heard all of the benefits of the switching across to VoIP, why delay any further? Avoid the rush and start enjoying all of the features of SIP by exploring your options today.
At EBC Group, we can manage all aspects of your migration over to SIP and fibre. We provide a full range of telephony and connectivity services, alongside our other managed services, and can offer expert advice on which solutions will be right for your business. Contact us online, email us at hello@ebcgroup.co.uk or phone us on 0121 3680119.
