In January 2027, Openreach will switch off the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which means everyone, including businesses, currently using PSTN-based services will need to move to another service before then.
That migration is now more than half complete and Openreach has already stopped selling many well-known telecoms services at hundreds of exchanges across the country. As the deadline gets closer, businesses who have not made the switch well before the deadline are in serious danger of being left behind, meaning they will be forced into an emergency migration with increasing likelihood of business downtime.
Additionally, as more exchanges stop selling new ISDN connections (Integrated Services Digital Network), even more businesses will join the rush towards digital communications. This enormous surge in demand will stretch resources to the limit – and could result in significant lead times and delays for those organisations who leave it too late to migrate.
Elevate Your Connectivity
Is Your Organisation Prepared for switch off?
- How will it affect the way staff communicate with customers?
- Is my current connection fast enough to support Cloud technology?
- How will it affect call management? Ie voicemails, call routing, call queues, etc
- How will it affect line management? Can I keep all my current lines/numbers?m
- Can I still keep extensions for individuals and departments?
- Will it affect remote working?
Step 1
Audit your current communications usage.
What do you have in place right now? Take an audit to assess your current communications set-up so you fully understand what needs to be updated. Don’t forget to check those easily forgotten details like fax machines, alarm systems, modems etc. Every single one of your ISDN connections will need to be replaced
with an IP alternative.
Explore how your business requirements can be met by a more consolidated approach using next-gen technology.
Step 2
Find out when your legacy contracts end.
Check to see when your local communications exchange is due to be issued with a stop sell notice.
Do your contracts expire before or after that date?
A service still in contract after that date will continue to work – but you won’t be able to renew any agreements that expire.
It is also worth noting that if your contract expires after the stop sell, but before the 2027 switch off, you have no choice but to explore a next gen alternative as your current service will no longer be available.
Step 3
Define your future communications strategy
Meet with your stakeholders to determine current and future business requirements.
- Will you increase use of flexi-working?
- Are more of your team working remotely?
- Do you have international expansion plans?
Answering these strategic questions will help you understand what your upgrade needs to achieve and help to future-proof your business communications.
Step 4
Assess potential of next gen technology
With your communications strategy defined you can investigate how newer technology can help you meet those goals.
Consolidating communications systems allows you to develop new, more efficient ways of working – and potentially help to reduce current and future operating costs too.
Step 5
Speak to a telecoms partner
We’d be happy to support you on this project, so get in touch today and we’ll start mapping out your digital journey together.
Our real world experience will help you navigate the various upgrade options, selecting the best solutions for your strategic goals.
Remember, the sooner you start, the sooner
you can reap the benefits of an all-new digital
communications system.
