2023 is a big year for business: Are you ready?

When it comes to business connectivity, 2023 is set to be a big year.

The Great British Switch Off will move into full swing as copper services are withdrawn from sale throughout the UK - leading up to the big switch off in 2025.

And that PSTN stop sell could have huge implications on your business if you’re not prepared.

That’s why if you haven’t already started thinking about the move to all-IP yet, now is the time to do so. And the best place to start is with an audit of your current voice and connectivity services.

Stay connected

If your office and users are connecting over older copper-based services (like ADSL or Fibre to the Cabinet broadband), you should be aware that these services won’t be available for very much longer.

Perhaps you’ll have no need to upgrade your service or purchase a new connection any time soon. You’re happy with your existing connection and won’t be unduly inconvenienced by the stop sell. But think forward a couple of years to the moment that these services won’t just be unavailable for sale but will be switched off entirely.

And even if you think you don’t need full fibre today, once stop sell has hit your area even the most minor changes to your existing service won’t be possible.

That’s why it’s important to look at your full fibre or SOGEA upgrade options today. Being prepared now means a smooth passage through the switch off. And if you don’t think you’ll need the full 900Mbps speeds that full fibre offers, we have other packages that might better fit your needs and budget.

As the transition away from copper accelerates, a tipping point will also be reached in terms of affordability. That’s because legacy technology is likely to become significantly more expensive. And the prospect of lesser performance for greater cost makes the move to more modern connections even more appealing.

Keep talking

But the stop sell isn’t just about the transition from copper-based broadband to future proof alternatives.

Because remember, those existing copper wires don’t just enable many broadband connections, they’re also the bedrock of the telephone network.

When the copper telephone network (PSTN/ISDN) goes away that means no more phone calls. Or at least it would if there wasn’t already an alternative in place.

If you’re using a single voice line currently, transitioning away from copper will likely mean a simple switch to Digital Voice, the replacement service that routes your calls over your internet connection rather than a telephone line. If you’re ready to discuss the move to Digital Voice, follow the link or give us a call on 01706 902583.

But now is a good time to consider your options. How many lines do you currently use and how many do you think you’ll need in the future? If your office is expanding, that single-line solution might not be best for your business. If you’re looking for management and monitoring tools, hybrid working, easy insight or scalability, now might be a good time to think about an upgrade to CloudComms.

Check your other services

So you’ve got your broadband and voice sorted and now you’re ready for the switch off.

Not so fast…

That may very well be the case, but there’s something else you need to think about too. Because there are other services that also rely on the copper telephone network to operate.

Think about alarms, CCTV, security systems and EPOS machines for example. Are you using any of these services and are you confident that they are all ready for the switch off? If not, it’s worth getting in touch with your provider now to ask them what they’re doing to ensure a smooth transition.

The copper broadband and telephone network will be switched off in 2025, but stop sell of services has already begun.

To find out more about the Great British Switch Off, the dates you need to know, how your business might be affected and what you can do about it, visit our page here.