Insights
Insights
The ISDN switch off is coming and that means the way we make our telephone calls is changing. But don’t panic! You don’t need to take action straight away, but it may be best to plan ahead.
If you’ve been told that ISDN is being switched off but unsure of what this means for your business, we can help.
It has been announced that the PSTN and ISDN telephone network will begin shutting down in 2020 – with the aim of turning the network off completely in 2025.
The PTSN (Public Switched Technology Network) is the traditional copper wire-based telephone network which has been around since pretty much the early days of phone calling. ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a digital platform, and a step up from PTSN, that came into play in the 1980s. This, at the time, delivered a much better service capable of transmitting not only voice, but video and other data too.
It’s clear a lot has changed since then, and neither of these technologies is capable of delivering the volume or quality of voice data needed in today’s world. Now, VoIP is here and telephone calls are being made over the internet with new technologies such as fibre optic connectivity.
If you’re still using PSTN and ISDN, the networks will still work as normal until the shut off date, but it’s best to consider how you will be working in the future now, to avoid any disruption to your business.
The current plan is to stop installing new ISDN/PTSN lines by 2023, but as many areas around the UK are already working with gigabit capable networks, this may come sooner.
For now, think about what your business needs – will staff be in the workplace full time or a mixture of home and office? Do you have plans to move premises? Don’t rush into any quick fixes – you need something capable of scaling up or providing the flexibility your business could need in the future.
Use the time to make a considered switch that may actually bring benefits to your business.
Many businesses are already using VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol for their phone system which is more cost efficient, flexible and easier to manage than ISDN. You can read about the other benefits of VoIP in our blog.
Moving your phone system to the cloud greatly reduces the complexity of it onsite, often just handsets, a mobile app or softphones (software-based phones) are required. And all you need is a solid broadband connection to get it working. That’s why it’s ideal for businesses with hybrid workers or staff that are working in different locations.
Given the fact that VoIP is a technology based on the Internet, its integration with your normal business apps and software can be easily achieved. You could combine VoIP with your email system, and be able to place calls through the email system itself or even with your CRM system, that way you can merge call records of a customer into the customer’s profile.
VoIP also works well with Microsoft Teams so that users can make and receive regular telephone calls either with their Teams app or with physical telephones. You can schedule online meetings, chat to your co-workers and communicate easily between staff and customers. There are options to create a private or group chat whilst sharing files.
You may not even need an entirely new phone system. The latest desk phones do support this technology and you can also port your numbers across, so there’s no need to be concerned about having to adjust to a new set of phone numbers.
By putting off moving your phone system, you may run the risk of rising costs due to the cost of maintenance and repair of ISDN increasing and possibly backlogs with everyone moving to cloud-based systems at once.
In light of the switch off, the government is making a big push for improving connectivity and have made funding available for businesses in rural areas to claim up to £3,500 towards the cost of installing full fibre gigabit capable connections.
If your ISDN contract is up for renewal, now is a good time to talk to us about how we can help you with the switch. Get in touch with our team at info@auratechnology.com.