BT is pulling the plug on PSTN and ISDN – here’s why businesses are switching to VoIP
Time waits for no man – and in the case of digitalization, for no business.
The latest example of this is BT’s plan to switch off the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) in 2025 as they make their infrastructure fully digital. The impact of this shift is massive, affecting everything from alarms and EPOS machines to CCTV and door entry systems.
And the move has already begun. BT is in the process of moving its customers from analog to digital and it’s wrapping up products and services that rely on PSTN/ISDN.
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As the 2025 deadline draws ever closer, here’s what organizations need to consider.
How will the end of PSTN and ISDN impact businesses?
Though the switch off deadline still feels far away, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Quite simply, those currently using PSTN or ISDN must evolve or risk becoming extinct, unable to keep pace with their digital-savvy competitors. By 2025, those that do not migrate to a digital telephone system will have no working telecoms to speak of.
However, this does not mean the decision should be rushed. Careful consideration of a future communications provider, particularly for rapidly scaling businesses, is needed to avoid your telephone system becoming a problem again later down the line.
At this crucial time, decision-makers must see their choice telecoms as an investment in the future of their business. Considering the options sooner rather than later and while there is still plenty of time could make the difference between adopting a future-proofed telephony system, and one that needs replacing in 5 years due to further technological advancements.
When choosing a replacement telephone system, it should be an upgrade on the current system such as a cloud-based VoIP product that can stand the test of time and offer greater flexibility than wired telephony. It should also easily integrate with other key business systems and software. Siloed telecoms will only create efficiency issues further down the line.
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Why businesses are turning to VoIP
Adopting a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) system continues to be a growing trend among businesses for a number of reasons. VoIP allows businesses to make and receive calls through its existing internet, rather than the PSTN or an ISDN network. This service will help businesses overcome the upcoming PSTN/ ISDN obsolescence and will open avenues for additional benefits that were not previously available.
Cost efficiency aside, VoIP phone systems are favored for the flexibility they offer.
Cloud-based VoIP services allow you to make calls from anywhere and include additional features to integrate key Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business tools with your telephony system. With remote working in mind, VoIP is a key enabler of the “work from anywhere” model that is becoming dominant across industries.
Being able to work from anywhere, at any time without seeing a negative impact on productivity or efficiency is now increasingly expected of all business systems – business communication tools are perhaps leading the way here.
Cloud-based services also depend on the fastest speeds the internet can provide and as we move into a world of 5G, which we know is 20 times faster than 4G, there are no doubts that it will enhance VoIP for businesses and become the new global standard utilized by all.
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Investing in the future of VoIP
To best prepare for the switch off, business leaders first need to understand what telephony solutions are on offer to replace PSTN and ISDN. Ensuring the right technology is adopted that not only meets your current business needs but also any needs that may arise in the future, is the most important consideration for businesses surrounding the switch off.
The decisions organisations make now will have a big impact on their future and it’s critical they don’t scrimp on the time and resources needed to make them. It’s never a sign of weakness to seek advice: talking to industry experts to translate jargon and getting recommendations from peers are very helpful steps to take, in addition to personal research.
[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com]
