Business

Ask the expert: Don’t get left behind by the PSTN switch off. Essential advice for businesses.

Zen Apr 22 2024 4 minutes

The clock is ticking on the traditional telephone system. With December 2025’s PSTN/WLR switch off fast approaching, if your business is still relying on copper-based phone lines, it’s time for a crucial upgrade. We spoke to Zen’s Connectivity Portfolio Manager, Andy Sayle, to get his insights on why businesses can’t afford to delay their preparations.

Switch off updates

The availability gap: Around a million UK businesses could benefit from full fibre right now, but many are hesitant to make the switch. Andy explains, “Businesses may worry about potential disruption or upfront costs, but the long-term advantages of future-proofing your connectivity and communications far outweigh these temporary concerns.”
The rapid rollout: Openreach is rolling out full fibre at a remarkable pace, to approximately 900,000 new premises a quarter, which Andy observes is the equivalent to a town the size of Oxford every week. If full fibre isn’t in your area yet, it may be soon!
Reliability boost: Full fibre boasts significantly fewer faults than outdated copper connections. In fact, Andy informs us that “Businesses can expect a 60% reduction in reported faults with full fibre, which translates to fewer frustrating service interruptions and less costly downtime.”

The voice advantage

Andy tells us that navigating the switch-off is about more than just maintaining your phone service. Replacing your copper phone line is a critical part of the switch off process, but new all-IP based services bring additional benefits:

Digital Voice offers crystal-clear calls and a number of advanced features in a cost-efficient like-for-like replacement for existing line rental services. You can find out more about Digital Voice here.
CloudComms takes things a step further with powerful unified communications that cater from one to infinite lines, with the flexibility, scalability, powerful collaboration, ‘take-your-calls-anywhere’, management features and much, much more that modern growing businesses demand. If you’re interested in the ultimate business voice solution, find out more here.

Upgrade your connectivity, boost your business

If you haven’t already upgraded, the switch off will, by necessity, mean that your business needs a more modern broadband connection. Newer business broadband options like full fibre or SoGEA offer significant advantages over traditional copper-based services:

Blazing speeds: Support bandwidth-intensive applications, cloud services, and seamless business collaboration.
Enhanced reliability: Experience fewer outages and faster resolution times, minimising downtime for your business.
Future proofing: Ensure your business has the scalable connectivity it needs to thrive for years to come.

To find out what business broadband packages are available at your address, enter your postcode here.

Advice to businesses: now’s the time to act

Before you make the move ahead of the PSTN switch off, Andy recommends a few steps to ensure a smooth transition:

Properly prepare: “Start by understanding the switch-off deadline and what it means for your business”, Andy advises. “This is not an overnight transition, and careful planning will ensure a smooth changeover with minimal disruption.”
Tech audit: Identify all devices and services that rely on traditional phone lines. Contact the providers of alarm systems, fax machines and EPOS systems to confirm if they’ll function over a digital connection, and what upgrades might be required.
Don’t delay: “The closer the deadline, the greater the rush”, Andy warns. “This could lead to longer wait times for installations, less desirable appointment slots, and an increased risk of unforeseen issues impacting your business operations.”
Got your number: For many businesses, keeping an existing contact number can be essential for brand recognition and customer convenience, but Andy says this needn’t put you off from making the transition: “If retaining your number is important, let Zen know early in the process. In most cases, it’s a seamless transition, giving you one less thing to worry about.”