How to Navigate the PSTN Switch-Off: The Step-by-Step Guide

Why the PSTN switch-off matters: UK buyers must assess telephony, SIP trunking, SOGEA, VoIP, PBX and Microsoft Teams before 2025. Published on UC Today.

Rebekah Carter

Do you know exactly how much the PSTN switch-off will affect the technology within your organisation? With the deadline for the PSTN switch-off, 2025, just around the corner, businesses are now under increasing pressure to act.

The good news is that this is an opportunity for you to turbocharge your technology stack, by shifting to new, more efficient solutions. Currently, 70% of businesses are still relying on landline phones and traditional services. However, transitioning to the new age of telephony could give these organizations a chance to reduce costs, and improve productivity.

The question is, how do you navigate such a significant change? Here’s your step-by-step guide to preparing for the PSTN switch-off.

Step 1: Examine the Impact of the Switch-Off

With less than a year to transition away from traditional analog systems, more than 2.4 million businesses throughout the UK are still using ISDN and PSTN lines. A major reason for this is that countless companies don’t understand just how impactful the switch-off is.

It’s not just business telephony lines that will be affected by the change. If your company uses any ISDN, PTSN, ADSL2 broadband, or Single Analogue Exchange lines, you’re going to see a change to your functionality. This means everything from your private networking facilities to door access controls, fire alarms, and lifts could be impacted.

Before you assume you don’t need to worry about the switch-off, because you already have a VoIP system lined up, make sure you assess your entire ecosystem carefully. Daisy Corporate Services has produced a fantastic infographic here, showing all the components of your business that may be affected.

Step 2: Explore your Business Telephony Options

Once you have a clearer idea of what the PSTN switch-off means to your business, the next step is to consider your telephony options. There are a few options you can consider:

SIP Trunking Connected to your PBX

Telephony leaders can use SIP trunking technology to deliver VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to your private branch exchange (PBX). This can future-proof your telephony and upgrade your current UC solution, allowing you to retain your provider and current numbers.

However, your PBX may need to be upgraded to enable SIP functionality. This could mean installing a Session Border Controller (SBC) that meets the requirements of your UC supplier.

SIP Trunking Via ISDN to SIP

An alternative way companies can deliver VoIP technology to your business is through an ISDN to SIP converter. A vendor can install the hardware into your ecosystem in the case that your PBX doesn’t allow an upgrade to SIP.

Custom UC Solutions

Alternatively, you may choose to work with a leading communications partner on the development of a comprehensive new unified communications solution. This will give you a comprehensive platform for video conferencing, voice calls, instant messaging and more.

The great thing about this strategy is that it can bring all of the elements of your communications needs together in one convenient environment. You can even combine tools like Microsoft Teams with external voice calling using Direct Routing.

Step 3: Consider Your Broadband Options

The end of the PSTN and ISDN lines in business environments doesn’t just affect your telephony, it can have an impact on your internet strategy too. Connectivity won’t be supported by traditional phone lines in 2025, meaning you’ll need to transition to a new single-order broadband solution.

SOGEA, or Single Order Generic Ethernet Access was created as a response to this changing landscape, ensuring companies and consumers can buy a broadband connection without requiring a phone line. The right vendor can supply SOGEA solutions with a range of bandwidth options to choose from, giving you excellent stability, wide availability, and consistent functionality.

The only potential downside here is that SOGEA eliminates access to a phone number, as there’s no access to a traditional phone line. This means you’ll need to find a vendor that can deliver a workaround solution. This takes us to our next step.

Step 4: Connect Your Broadband and Phonelines

If you upgrade your internet connection to SOGEA, you’ll need a solution that still allows you to access the internet. Fortunately, vendors like Daisy offer solutions such as the OnlineUC Phoneline+. This is a cloud-based single-user VoIP service, which sits on top of your SOGEA service, to provide speech and analog data services.

If you currently use the analog element of your broadband service to make voice calls, or to support solutions like fax machines, this will help to future-proof your business.

Companies like Daisy offer a comprehensive range of services to ensure businesses can rapidly transition from old analog networks, into new cloud-based opportunities for communication, and powerful SOGEA internet connections.

Step 5: Assess and Implement New Hardware

Finally, you’ll need to consider the hardware you already have in your business landscape, and whether it should be upgraded to support your new ecosystem. While it is sometimes possible to bring desk phones, fax machines and other systems with you into your new business model, you may need some extra solutions too.

For instance, if you’re building a comprehensive unified communications environment for your team members, you may need to purchase and install new webcams, microphones, and speakers. At the very least, you’ll need IP-enabled phones, and ensure team members have access to computers, laptops, phones and tablets they can use with softphone apps.

A reliable vendor will help you to navigate the process of not only choosing the right software and cloud connections, but also implementing essential hardware into your organization.

Are You Prepared for the PSTN Switch-Off?

Time is running out, and your vital solutions could cease to work if you don’t act. If you wait until 2025, you could be at the back of a very long queue.

Daisy's Asset Audit will identify and review your current PSTN and ISDN estate. Whether the assets are with Daisy, another provider, or a mixed estate, our Asset Audit service identifies and reviews your current WLR services, so whatever stage you're currently at, we can help you to clarify your business objectives and minimise switchover disruption as we help you manage a seamless migration.

“The decommissioning of PSTN lines is a once in a lifetime technological shift, however switching doesn’t have to be scary, but planning is crucial”, says Lee Hunwick, Head of Unified Communications, Daisy Corporate Services.

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