Your business might be utilising PSTN and ISDN for more than just calls. Cash machines, fax machines, cameras and door security systems could all be connected to your PSTN line and might be impacted if not properly considered.  

As a starting point, it is important to carry out an audit of PSTN and lines within your business. You will need to identify which devices are connected to a PSTN line and therefore could be impacted by the Switch Off. Once an audit has been carried out, it is easier to identify areas that need change moving forward. 

Once your audit has identified the areas of your business in which PSTN operates, it is important to recognise how the Switch Off could impact not only your services, but the business as well. The older the systems are, the more likely they are to be affected and if your business doesn’t take the necessary steps ahead of the 2025 deadline, phone lines will stop working and this will take time and money to fix.

However, it is also worth noting the beneficial impact of migrating to a digital line replacement.

• Updating from a legacy system means your business can fully embrace cloud capabilities, helping it to be more agile, productive and secure.
• Implementing digital connectivity solutions allows your business to fully embrace modern ways of workings, enabling staff to work anywhere and at any time.
• New or renewed PSTN and ISDN contracts will outlive the service itself. By the time a new or renewed contract expires, technology will have moved on, so it is best to consider your options now before it is too late.

2025 may seem far in the future but there might be a lot to do in preparation, so it is important to start identifying what your most suitable options are. It is important to consider the process for migrating to a new digital line and ask yourself important questions.

• Are we just extending our current connectivity solutions, or do we need to replace?
• Will the migration be part of a larger digital transformation programme?
• Is this an opportunity to transform our IT infrastructure and make improvements?
• What are the timescales?
• Will we need to work with a connected IT provider to guarantee success?

Dependant on your business requirements, an IT partner can work in partnership with you to successfully migrate from PSTN and ISDN lines, providing a seamless and hassle-free service, so you don’t need to worry.

It is important to work with a supplier experienced in digital connectivity, cloud and security such as Digital Space, as they will have connectivity specialists on hand to guide you through the entire process. The specialists will be able to provide a full review of your PSTN networks identifying areas that need to change and will be able to recommend the best digital solutions for your business so you get the very best results from the Switch Off.

Find out how Digital Space can help you below.

Once you have reviewed your most suitable options, it is time to start planning the migration. You will need to consider how and when the migration will take place and if any, what impact this could have on the business. Employees might also need to be informed in case it affects how and when they work, as well as external parties if needed.

Openreach’s timescales are also pivotal to the planning process. As mentioned earlier, Openreach is already starting to stop the sale of new PSTN services and this has already occurred for some geographic regions and for others, will continue throughout 2022.

The very last step is to start the migration process and transform how your business and its employees operates. Once you make the switch to a digital line or cloud solution, you will find your network benefits from better connectivity, productivity and security.