You’re more than likely to have heard that BT is switching its analogue phone lines off in 2025. But what does this actually mean for your business? And will you be ready for this change when it comes? In this article, we look at the analogue switch-off, the implications this could have for your business, and what you can do to get ready for it!

What will the analogue switch-off involve?

Broadband provider Openreach plans to switch more than 14 million traditional lines onto a new digital service by December 2025. At this point, the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) will be retired and replaced with new digital services. This has significant implications for businesses, as many of their systems — such as payment card readers, alarm services and equipment — rely on phone lines!

As a result, Openreach has asked UK businesses to start preparing for the switch-off by auditing their systems and devices to identify compatibility issues before the upgrade takes place. This is vital for organisations that work in the country’s infrastructure sector, such as health, government, energy, and the emergency services.

How do I audit my business equipment?

Openreach is advising all businesses to compile a list of all the devices they use on their premises and speak to their service providers and suppliers to ask how these will function when their phone lines are changed to digital. It has also introduced a Call Waiting List service for businesses who want to find out more about how the switch-off might affect them.

What can I do about services running off copper lines?

There are a number of ways you can plan the transition to digital for your business. These include:

• Switching to Cloud telephony: A large proportion of the UK market has already switched to a Cloud telephony solution, a trend that’s been accelerated by COVID-19. Switching means you no longer need physical phone lines, as your communication takes place over the Internet instead. Cloud telephony is cheaper than maintaining a traditional telephone system and offers many benefits, including fantastic scalability — as you can add or remove users as needed.
• Considering your hardware: Speak to your hardware suppliers to see how your equipment will work after the switch-off. For example, can you switch your devices to IP mode?
• Considering your services: For services that currently run off analogue lines, speak to your service provider to see if these can be upgraded to an IP equivalent.

Watch our video tutorial which provides more information about our Cloud Telephony service.

How can I make the transition a smooth one?

For a stress-free transition, choose a provider that can offer you hosted telephony services as well as broadband. This means you’ll have one port-of-call for your communication needs. With more services operating over the Internet, you’ll also want a high-quality, fast and reliable connection. This will enable you to enjoy crystal clear voice calls and smooth, seamless video conferencing, for example. If using web-based collaboration tools, you will also want a fast connection with maximum bandwidth and minimum downtime.

At Everyday Communications, we have a range of advanced telecoms solutions to help you prepare for the analogue switch-off. These include Cloud telephony and SIP trunking, professional video conferencing and high-speed business-grade broadband.

To find out more, speak to a member of our expert team!