What is the ISDN Switch Off 2025?
The UK copper line switch-off (also known as the ISDN Switch Off or Great British Switch Off here at Zen) is the official end of the analogue phone or copper line infrastructure. When it takes place, traditional PSTN and ISDN lines will stop working altogether, to be replaced by IP phone systems like Digital Voice and CloudComms. The stop sell has already happened across many telephone exchanges and the switch off itself will happen in 2025.
The UK’s copper wire telephone system (also known as PSTN or the Public Switched Telephone Network) has been relatively unchanged for more than 100 years. In an increasingly connected world, demand for digital connectivity is rising. Ultimately the ISDN switch-off in 2025 will improve the quality of communications nationwide as the country transitions away from copper lines to more reliable FTTP or full fibre connectivity.
If you haven’t already done so, it is time you future-proof your home and business against the disconnection of ISDN and PSTN telephone services. Find out when and how to make this essential update, and stay connected for the future.
Don’t get left behind – trust Zen to guide you through the 2025 Switch Off.
Discover how Zen can help you as a:
The ISDN Switch Off: key dates
How Zen can help you?
Access to reliable communications to connect with friends, family, colleagues, customers, and suppliers will always be essential. As ISDN and PSTN lines become a part of history, make sure you’re equipped for the future of communications with the analogue switch-off coming in 2025.
We’ve found that most businesses still use landlines for:
Supplier and Partner communications (61%)
Colleague communications (62%)
Don’t get caught out continuing to pay for analogue telephone contracts that tie your business in well beyond the switch-off date. They’ll either leave you disconnected or out of pocket from 2025. Future-proof your personal and business communications with Zen.
Discover how Zen can help you as a:
Residential users and small businesses
Zen Full Fibre
Our Full Fibre package offers a true fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband connection. It is capable of providing both WiFi and Digital Voice connections, so you can keep your business online and your home connected.
Single Order Generic Ethernet Access (SoGEA)
If your business is already using voice technology such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), SoGEA might be the option for you. When full fibre isn’t available, with SoGEA you can order an FTTC internet connection without the need for a phone line, combining all your services into one handy order.
Digital Voice
Still using your landline or ISDN network? Digital Voice is the future-proof solution for making and receiving calls over your internet connection. It’s high quality, reliable, and doesn’t depend on those old copper telephone wires. Just plug your phone into your router and you’re ready to go.
Mid-market & Corporate businesses
VoIP systems like Digital Voice aren't the only solution for large or growing businesses. Experience clear-as-day audio and video calling to colleagues and customers with CloudComms by Zen. We provide flexible and cost-effective business communication services to suit your budget and needs. Be confident in the connectivity for your business with 24/7 management and monitoring.
✔ Connectivity from anywhere
Ensure maximum business comms continuity with guaranteed 99.99% uptime. CloudComms allows you to answer your business number on any device and provides automatic call rerouting – making working from home a breeze.
✔ Pass on the benefits to your customers
Enjoy greater efficiency when responding to customer queries, whatever channel they come through. With seamless integration across departments and communication channels, your customers will be more than satisfied with your service.
✔ Seamless management
Use our 24/7 portal access to add and remove users, access call logs and recordings, and change permissions. With Zen CloudComms, your business communications are exactly that – your business.
✔ Easy integration
Discover a streamlined solution. CloudComms is designed to integrate with your existing communication systems for ease of set-up. From the office to the call centre, to the home office – all your business communications are unified with Zen.
Partners
✔ Network and connectivity
Choose from a range of broadband, ethernet leased lines and MPLS IP VPN options to suit the usage and connectivity needs of your business.
✔ Cloud and hosting
Make your customers’ cloud transition as smooth as possible with IaaS, Baas, and DRaaS services for efficient and secure data management.
✔ Voice
With competitively priced business phone lines and cost-saving hosted voice, Zen guarantees to keep your business talking.
Resources
Digital Voice vs CloudComms: what's best for your business
Apr 27, 2022, 16:38 PM
by
Simon Black
If you’ve been keeping up to date with our regular articles on the Great British Switch Off, you’ll know that over the next few years the way we all communicate will change forever...
If you’ve been keeping up to date with our regular articles on the Great British Switch Off, you’ll know that over the next few years the way we all communicate will change forever.
Those old-fashioned copper telephone lines are set to be replaced by something new, built upon modern data connections.
If your business is still using an old landline or ISDN connection, now is the time to think about the future of your communications. And for most businesses, that will mean choosing a Digital Voice or CloudComms solution.
But how do you decide which of these choices is right for you? Here’s the rundown.
Digital Voice
First of all, what is Digital Voice exactly? Without getting into the behind-the-scenes technical stuff, this is actually fairly straightforward.
In many ways, Digital Voice is a like for like replacement for those soon-to-be-gone copper landlines. The only thing you need to be aware of from an end-user perspective is that, instead of plugging your phone into a master socket, you’ll plug it into the back of your router.
Now, that’s an important point because the way broadband is sold in the UK is already changing. Full fibre and SoGEA connections come without line rental, which means no traditional telephone connectivity is possible. (We’ll be launching our new business SoGEA packages soon, so keep an eye out for more on that in a future article).
But those modern connections are more than capable of carrying high quality voice calls – and that’s exactly what they do with Digital Voice.
When it comes to making and receiving calls, using Digital Voice should be very similar to using a landline. And if that’s what your business needs – a single or small number of fixed lines – Digital Voice is an ideal solution.
It’s better value than traditional business landlines, calls tend to be higher quality and other than that there is little to no difference.
If you haven’t already taken out a modern full fibre or SoGEA broadband connection, take a look at our available options here and remember to add the Digital Voice option to keep your all-important voice communications.
CloudComms
If all you need is that straight replacement for your business calls, then Digital Voice is a great alternative.
But there is another option, one that offers high quality voice calls and so much more.
First off, as the name implies, CloudComms makes use of the cloud to carry your calls (and other communications – we’ll get back to this). That means, like Digital Voice, it relies on an internet connection rather than a phone line.
But that cloud element is very important. Because all the call routing takes place from a virtual location in the cloud. And that means you can take CloudComms with you, wherever you have an internet connection in fact.
So why be restricted to your office or home when you can make and receive calls from virtually any location? CloudComms gives you the ability to take your business communications – and your number – with you wherever you go.
And that office phone? Well, it’s great when you’re at your desk, but sometimes it’s just more convenient to take your calls on your mobile or even your laptop. Aside from the obvious business continuity benefits (no in-office equipment to break down, the ability to make and receive calls from any location), the sheer flexibility of CloudComms means you can always be dialled into your business comms.
With CloudComms you can pay per user, which means as your business grows – or you’d like to reduce the number of active users – you can scale up or down as needed.
But what about that ‘other communications’ we mentioned earlier? One of the best features of CloudComms is the way it integrates with your other systems for a true unified communications solution – from voice to email, webchat and more.
Other benefits of CloudComms include free internal calls, and 24/7 management portal access – for adding and removing users, accessing call logs and recordings, changing hunt groups and a host of other features.
Visit our site to read about more of the benefits of CloudComms.
No matter the size and nature of your business, there is a solution to meet your unique communication needs. From high quality Digital Voice to replace aging analogue systems to fully featured CloudComms to take your communication and collaboration to another level.
To discuss the best option for your business, call us on 01706 902583 or follow the links here.
Digital Voice vs CloudComms: what's best for your business
Apr 27, 2022, 16:38 PM
by
Simon Black
If you’ve been keeping up to date with our regular articles on the Great British Switch Off, you’ll know that over the next few years the way we all communicate will change forever...
If you’ve been keeping up to date with our regular articles on the Great British Switch Off, you’ll know that over the next few years the way we all communicate will change forever.
Those old-fashioned copper telephone lines are set to be replaced by something new, built upon modern data connections.
If your business is still using an old landline or ISDN connection, now is the time to think about the future of your communications. And for most businesses, that will mean choosing a Digital Voice or CloudComms solution.
But how do you decide which of these choices is right for you? Here’s the rundown.
Digital Voice
First of all, what is Digital Voice exactly? Without getting into the behind-the-scenes technical stuff, this is actually fairly straightforward.
In many ways, Digital Voice is a like for like replacement for those soon-to-be-gone copper landlines. The only thing you need to be aware of from an end-user perspective is that, instead of plugging your phone into a master socket, you’ll plug it into the back of your router.
Now, that’s an important point because the way broadband is sold in the UK is already changing. Full fibre and SoGEA connections come without line rental, which means no traditional telephone connectivity is possible. (We’ll be launching our new business SoGEA packages soon, so keep an eye out for more on that in a future article).
But those modern connections are more than capable of carrying high quality voice calls – and that’s exactly what they do with Digital Voice.
When it comes to making and receiving calls, using Digital Voice should be very similar to using a landline. And if that’s what your business needs – a single or small number of fixed lines – Digital Voice is an ideal solution.
It’s better value than traditional business landlines, calls tend to be higher quality and other than that there is little to no difference.
If you haven’t already taken out a modern full fibre or SoGEA broadband connection, take a look at our available options here and remember to add the Digital Voice option to keep your all-important voice communications.
CloudComms
If all you need is that straight replacement for your business calls, then Digital Voice is a great alternative.
But there is another option, one that offers high quality voice calls and so much more.
First off, as the name implies, CloudComms makes use of the cloud to carry your calls (and other communications – we’ll get back to this). That means, like Digital Voice, it relies on an internet connection rather than a phone line.
But that cloud element is very important. Because all the call routing takes place from a virtual location in the cloud. And that means you can take CloudComms with you, wherever you have an internet connection in fact.
So why be restricted to your office or home when you can make and receive calls from virtually any location? CloudComms gives you the ability to take your business communications – and your number – with you wherever you go.
And that office phone? Well, it’s great when you’re at your desk, but sometimes it’s just more convenient to take your calls on your mobile or even your laptop. Aside from the obvious business continuity benefits (no in-office equipment to break down, the ability to make and receive calls from any location), the sheer flexibility of CloudComms means you can always be dialled into your business comms.
With CloudComms you can pay per user, which means as your business grows – or you’d like to reduce the number of active users – you can scale up or down as needed.
But what about that ‘other communications’ we mentioned earlier? One of the best features of CloudComms is the way it integrates with your other systems for a true unified communications solution – from voice to email, webchat and more.
Other benefits of CloudComms include free internal calls, and 24/7 management portal access – for adding and removing users, accessing call logs and recordings, changing hunt groups and a host of other features.
Visit our site to read about more of the benefits of CloudComms.
No matter the size and nature of your business, there is a solution to meet your unique communication needs. From high quality Digital Voice to replace aging analogue systems to fully featured CloudComms to take your communication and collaboration to another level.
To discuss the best option for your business, call us on 01706 902583 or follow the links here.
Digital Voice vs CloudComms: what's best for your business
Apr 27, 2022, 16:38 PM
by
Simon Black
If you’ve been keeping up to date with our regular articles on the Great British Switch Off, you’ll know that over the next few years the way we all communicate will change forever...
If you’ve been keeping up to date with our regular articles on the Great British Switch Off, you’ll know that over the next few years the way we all communicate will change forever.
Those old-fashioned copper telephone lines are set to be replaced by something new, built upon modern data connections.
If your business is still using an old landline or ISDN connection, now is the time to think about the future of your communications. And for most businesses, that will mean choosing a Digital Voice or CloudComms solution.
But how do you decide which of these choices is right for you? Here’s the rundown.
Digital Voice
First of all, what is Digital Voice exactly? Without getting into the behind-the-scenes technical stuff, this is actually fairly straightforward.
In many ways, Digital Voice is a like for like replacement for those soon-to-be-gone copper landlines. The only thing you need to be aware of from an end-user perspective is that, instead of plugging your phone into a master socket, you’ll plug it into the back of your router.
Now, that’s an important point because the way broadband is sold in the UK is already changing. Full fibre and SoGEA connections come without line rental, which means no traditional telephone connectivity is possible. (We’ll be launching our new business SoGEA packages soon, so keep an eye out for more on that in a future article).
But those modern connections are more than capable of carrying high quality voice calls – and that’s exactly what they do with Digital Voice.
When it comes to making and receiving calls, using Digital Voice should be very similar to using a landline. And if that’s what your business needs – a single or small number of fixed lines – Digital Voice is an ideal solution.
It’s better value than traditional business landlines, calls tend to be higher quality and other than that there is little to no difference.
If you haven’t already taken out a modern full fibre or SoGEA broadband connection, take a look at our available options here and remember to add the Digital Voice option to keep your all-important voice communications.
CloudComms
If all you need is that straight replacement for your business calls, then Digital Voice is a great alternative.
But there is another option, one that offers high quality voice calls and so much more.
First off, as the name implies, CloudComms makes use of the cloud to carry your calls (and other communications – we’ll get back to this). That means, like Digital Voice, it relies on an internet connection rather than a phone line.
But that cloud element is very important. Because all the call routing takes place from a virtual location in the cloud. And that means you can take CloudComms with you, wherever you have an internet connection in fact.
So why be restricted to your office or home when you can make and receive calls from virtually any location? CloudComms gives you the ability to take your business communications – and your number – with you wherever you go.
And that office phone? Well, it’s great when you’re at your desk, but sometimes it’s just more convenient to take your calls on your mobile or even your laptop. Aside from the obvious business continuity benefits (no in-office equipment to break down, the ability to make and receive calls from any location), the sheer flexibility of CloudComms means you can always be dialled into your business comms.
With CloudComms you can pay per user, which means as your business grows – or you’d like to reduce the number of active users – you can scale up or down as needed.
But what about that ‘other communications’ we mentioned earlier? One of the best features of CloudComms is the way it integrates with your other systems for a true unified communications solution – from voice to email, webchat and more.
Other benefits of CloudComms include free internal calls, and 24/7 management portal access – for adding and removing users, accessing call logs and recordings, changing hunt groups and a host of other features.
Visit our site to read about more of the benefits of CloudComms.
No matter the size and nature of your business, there is a solution to meet your unique communication needs. From high quality Digital Voice to replace aging analogue systems to fully featured CloudComms to take your communication and collaboration to another level.
To discuss the best option for your business, call us on 01706 902583 or follow the links here.
The 2025 Switch Off: frequently asked questions
The 2025 switch off is the gradual deactivation of BT’s Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) between now and 2025. Homes and business owners are no longer able to buy products connecting to these networks – fibre connections will become the new standard.
In 2025, all landlines will be disconnected. You will still be able to use a landline handset at home or in your business – but the network that connects it will be digitised. To make calls from a landline phone, you will need an internet connection.
Landlines will be replaced with the FTTP broadband network, delivering calls via Digital Voice technology. This connects your handset to your WiFi router and uses broadband data to make and receive calls. To find out how to stay connected with Zen, check out our Digital Voice packages for businesses.
The concept of landlines will still exist, only in digital form. The copper landline infrastructure, however, will no longer be operating from 2025. You will still be able to use your old landline handset with a new Digital Voice landline contract by plugging it into your router.
With Digital Voice, landline calls are set to become better quality and cheaper than most mobile contracts. The new landline phone system offers a range of benefits and supports your WiFi connection. Find out more about Digital Voice.
VoIP is Voice Over Internet Protocol. It works by converting your voice calls into a digital signal, providing landline phone service via the internet. With VoIP, you can make a call from a computer, landline handset, or another data-connected device.
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Why Choose Zen For Business?
Award-winning service
We don’t operate anonymous, faceless call centres. Our support staff are UK-based, highly qualified, and have the freedom and skills to provide an exceptional service to all our customers.
Our independence
It’s what really differentiates us from our major competitors. With no shareholders to satisfy, we can reinvest our profits back into making Zen an even better business.
Putting people first
To us this is not just a mantra, it’s what we truly believe. We believe that happy and well-trained staff do a better job, and that results in happier customers.
