Are you ready for the Great British Switch Off?

The good news is that, according to our latest research, most businesses have heard of the Great British Switch Off. To be precise, 87% of respondents are aware that the UK is shutting down the ageing copper phone lines (the PSTN and ISDN networks) for good, as we move to a more reliable digital (all-ip) future.

But being aware is not the same as being prepared. The bad news is that only 23% of our respondents - which include both large and small businesses - have already identified and implemented a post-PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) solution. Over a quarter (27%) are assessing their options and more than one in six (17%) are not sure what their next steps should be.

Why does this matter? It matters because the switch off might not be as far off as you think. The first deadline to bear in mind is just a year away.

And it matters because the organisations that are best prepared for switch off will find it easier to meet the challenges and grasp the opportunities of a the new digital (all-IP)_ world. In the rest of this article we’ll explain what those might be.

Download our new white paper, the Great British Switch-Off

A PSTN switch off refresher

First of all, we should be clear about what the switch off is. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is an analogue system using copper wire. It’s basically what most of us know as the landline.

The Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) allows digital services to be transmitted via PSTN. For example, you can have basic video calling on an analogue phone line.

PSTN and ISDN are old and creaky. They were great 30 years ago but don’t have the capacity, speed or resilience for modern digital communications.

So they’re being switched off. The first important date is December 2025, after which you could be given just 90 days’ notice to switch to an all-IP (digital) solution or risk losing connectivity and everything that relies on it. The second is December 2027, when the networks are shut down for good.

PSTN switch off: risks and opportunities

You might be asking, “so what?”. It’s a reasonable question. The first deadline is still a year or so away and the big shut down isn’t till 2027. Why fix something that isn’t broken before you have to?

But it’s not quite that simple. For a start, the old PSTN network is already becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Those businesses still using it are likely to face more downtime and disruption as the switch off date approaches.

In addition, if you fail to transition to a digital solution before the deadline, you could lose phone connectivity altogether (and everything else that relies on it - like your broadband). Imagine what that means for sales, customer service and the smooth running of your business.

And if you’re forced to move at short notice, you won’t have time to prepare. A rushed and unplanned migration to a system you haven’t properly evaluated is an accident waiting to happen.

Early mover advantage

Happily, the downsides of not moving quickly enough are more than matched by the upsides of early mover advantage. Put simply, the sooner you make the move to all-IP (digital) communications, the sooner you can take advantage of its enhanced features, efficiency and flexibility.

According to our survey, 57% of businesses already use a cloud communications solution (also known as unified communications, or UC) to integrate communications channels. Most businesses who don’t use it yet (86%) would consider using it in the post-switch off world.

Other alternatives are available, like SIP, which involves virtual phone lines connected to a physical PBX, or hosted PBX, which is a phone system hosted externally.

They’re fine and might be just right for you, but the popularity of UC is not an accident

• UC brings modern communication methods together. Depending on the solution, you may be able to call, email, video conference, text and instant message from the same platform.
• It’s collaborative. Team chats, shared screens and file sharing make it easy for teams to work together.
• It’s great for hybrid working. Hosted in the cloud, UC allows employees to use all this functionality wherever they are, whether that’s the office, the back bedroom or the coffee shop down the street.
• It boosts customer satisfaction. Contact centres with UC solutions can use calls, email, text and chat to interact with customers, reducing call queues and giving customers multiple ways to get in touch.
• It can reduce costs. UC can consolidate a range of overlapping services, simplifying supplier management and potentially saving money.
• Organisational agility. Cloud communications can be scaled up and down almost at will, allowing organisations to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.

These are just some of the advantages of cloud communications and UC, and there are many more.

But UC isn’t for everyone, and SIP or hosted PBX might be more appropriate for small businesses with relatively simple communication requirements.

The main thing at this point is to start thinking about the range of post-PSTN solutions out there and which one might be right for you. Talk to experts - we’re always happy to help - and demo a few systems.

The Great British Switch Off is an important moment for business and your post-PSTN solution could make a significant difference to your productivity and efficiency in the months and years to come. Don’t leave he future of your business communications to chance.