If you’ve heard about the ISDN switch-off but are unsure about what it means for you and your business, then you’ve come to the right place.
Industry terminology can make it difficult to understand exactly what the switch-off is and how it affects you. At Chrome, we like to keep things simple. We’ve put together this guide to give you a better understanding of how the ISDN switch-off will affect you.
What the switch-off means
Simply put, the ISDN switch-off is the shutting down of certain services from BT. These services have been used for several years and will be replaced with new advancements from the telecommunications industry. The BT services which will be discontinued are PSTN and ISDN.
But what exactly are PTSN and ISDN and why are they being discontinued?
PSTN stands for public switched telephone network and is a telecommunications network. It allows for information to be transmitted through copper wires and since being introduced in the late 1800s , has been the primary method for businesses to transmit phone calls.
ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network and is a network of communication standards using digital transmission to make phone and video calls amongst other network services. These network services operate over the circuits of the traditional PSTN.
BT announced in 2015 that in 2025 they will be shutting down their ISDN and PSTN services. The primary reason is that they are a little outdated and advancements in technology have made it possible to make voice calls over the internet. Once ISDN and PSTN services have been shut down, BT can focus their resources on building and perfecting these new technologies.
This impacts your business as once these services are gone, you’ll need a new business phone system using alternative technology. Even though systems using PSTN and ISDN can still be sold until 2023, they can only be used until 2025.
What is the alternative technology?
The alternative options include VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), also referred to as IP telephony. VOIP uses modern technology including fibre-optic connectivity and is both a method and group of technologies delivering communications over IP networks. In short, calls will now be made through the internet rather than the traditional copper wires.
VOIP technology is used by cloud-based phone systems, which we provide at Chrome. Cloud-based phone systems are cost effective partly because they eliminate the need to install and maintain physical hardware.
The benefits of VOIP and cloud-based phone systems include a lower cost and higher quality sound, as well as advanced features such as auto-attendants and call recording. Cloud-based phone systems do, however, require a high-speed internet connection. At Chrome, we provide broadband services in addition to our business phone systems so that you can have all your business communication needs on one bill.
Another benefit of a cloud-based phone system is scalability. As your business grows, your phone system can easily be added to support your growing team. Equally, if you decide to move premises, a cloud-based system is much easier to relocate due to being internet-based and not reliant on copper wiring and physical hardware.
How you can best prepare today
From 2025, every business will need to have upgraded their phone system in response to the switch-off. And this is the final switch-off – work is already under way, meaning that the technology will be all but obsolete long before 2025. It will benefit you far more to be ahead of the rush for cloud-based-systems as the date gets closer.
Like most products, when the demand rapidly increases so does the cost – so if you’re ready for an upgrade, it won’t hurt to make the switch now.
The best way of preparing your business for the ISDN switch-off is by getting in touch with the experts. We can answer any questions that you might have about the switch-off, VOIP and cloud-based phone systems. Whatever it is, we’re happy to help!
Our team will listen to your business needs and requirements to match you with the right phone system for you. We’ll even consider your business goals to ensure that you are getting exactly what you need from your system. We do this by listening and understanding your pain points and solving them with the features and benefits of our products, creating the perfect solution.
We hope that you’ve found this guide useful and that you are now clearer on the ISDN switch-off and how it’ll impact your business. Be sure to get in touch with us today to find out more about our product range and services!
