We’re all familiar with the copper wire telephone network: in use since 1876, it’s kept business communications’ going for years. But that’s all about to change. BT Openreach has announced it intends to switch off the traditional, copper-based telephone network in 2025. This is commonly referred to as the PSTN Switch Off. While 2025 may seem a while away, from December 2023 you won’t be able to purchase any new ISDN or PSTN-based services, with many locations affected by a stop sell much sooner than that.
In 2025, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is being switched off by BT Openreach, which means everyone, including businesses, currently using PSTN-based services will need to move to another service before then.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a solution that transmits voice calls and data using an internet connection. This is a major step towards the United Kingdom’s mass IP-network migration, with VoIP core networks set to replace all the legacy PSTN services in just a few years’ time.
To expedite the transition between networks, they have identified and published a list of Priority Exchanges throughout the British Isles where they will be focussing their efforts to get FTTP (Fibre-to-the-Premises) rolled out. When FTTP is available to more than 75% of properties within the catchment of an exchange then they will move to Stop Sell with WLR products, meaning everyone (business and consumer) will need to move to an IP service for new orders.
The current list of Priority Exchanges and their intended Stop Sell dates are shown in the map below (dates correct at time of publication).
In this blog, we have provided a useful link which heads to a map. This shows the plots which exchanges will undergo a “stop sell” as the nation moves to an All IP. Openreach has announced 297 priority exchanges for stop sell of PSTN services by April 2022. You can track which exchanges are switching off using the map. This map is built on Google Maps, and so can be navigated as you would use any online map The priority exchanges have been categorised into 4 “tranches” which go in order of “stop sell” dates – these can be viewed on the left-hand side of the map. Each Exchange has detailed information including exchange code, postcode, SI number, stop sell date, and helpful FAQ’s.
View the switch off map – https://lp.gamma.co.uk/PSTN-KMZ_Map
What do I need to know?
We understand that this change can be daunting for your business, and you may have some doubts, but the move to VoIP need not be difficult. Here are four huge benefits for switching to a new VoIP service with your partner of choice, Active Digital.
1.Continuity of service
Moving to VoIP is a seamless process that won’t leave you without your business phone for days. Acting now, before there is a huge demand for these services, is advised to ensure a swift and easy deployment.
2.Keeping your number
With VoIP, you don’t have to worry about taking out a new number. You can keep your existing one and ensure your customers can always reach you.
3.Ease of use
VoIP solutions are easy to use and can be employed on a variety of devices, from your existing analogue phone to your mobile phone, desktop or tablet.
4.Call quality
The speed of broadband is now genuinely fast enough to negate any problems around quality. There are hundreds of thousands of businesses that rely solely on VoIP to deliver their business voice calls.
Embrace the future of telephony by replacing your landline with VoIP before the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) is switched off in 2025.
Book a call with one of our team here
