WHAT is The Great British Switch Off?
The UK’s current telephone system is made up of voice lines, so currently even if you only wish to install internet, you will also have to have a voice line installed. Also known as the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), this current services has been around for over 140 years and consists of millions of miles of copper wires under the ground – the Coppersaurus.
The Great British Switch Off is the term used to refer to the switch from the relic that is a voice-based system, to full-fibre broadband.
To do so, Openreach will remove the the voice element of the network, replace it with fibre and finally switch off the PSTN.
This will revolutionalise the way in which we communicate and allow us to move forward and progress from a technological point of view.
WHY is it happening?
Simply put, the copper service (PSTN) which once thrived can now no longer keep up with the growing demand of data and is becoming obsolete.
Benefits of the new network;
- More Reliable
- Faster Connection
- Less interference so higher signal strength
- Quicker installation
- Supports more devices being connected
WHEN is it happening?
It has already started!
In December 2020, the first ‘Stop-Sell’ notification was sent out in Salisbury from Openreach, meaning they would no longer accomodate for or sell voice lines (copper) – therefore a switch to fibre was required.
In June 2021, lots of other areas in the UK also received the Stop-Sell notification and from now until September 2023, Openreach will be sending them out at a rapid rate until finally the switch is nationwide. Keep an eye out for your areas’ Stop-Sell being sent out as this will be an important date to work towards.
HOW will this affect you?
Getting the new network in operation well in time for your areas Stop-Sell is imperative to business continuity. It is anticipated that telecoms companies will experience a huge rush of orders in the months leading up to the nationwide switch off, so there will be a running risk of having to wait for installation and therefore be without internet for a period of time. Don’t get left behind!
WHAT are the solutions?
The change to fibre eliminates the voice element of the network. This means that people and businesses will no longer be able to make a call the traditional way and will have to equip themselves with Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone systems.
Voice over IP is part of the next generation technologies that allow you to place a phone call over the internet.
There are two main VoIP systems:
- Hosted: It is a phone system housed in the cloud, rather than in your office.
- SIP trunk: It is a service that connects your existing on-premise PBX equipment to the internet, thereby eliminating the need for a traditional landline or digital phone services.
Which one will be the best suited to you will depend entirely on your specific business needs, hence the necessity of a thorough assessment of your situation.
