Copper based phone lines – an analogue technology – have been a communication cornerstone for more than a century.
About to undergo a significant upgrade, these phones have been more than just a household item; they have been critical in historical moments, from World Wars to the Apollo 11 mission. The majority of these phone services have been facilitated through BT’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an ageing system that is now giving way to digital technologies such as Voice over IP (VoIP).
Back in 2017, BT announced plans to phase out the PSTN system by the end of 2025. Since then, Openreach has worked on retiring any related products, and as of 5th September 2023 we are unable to take over existing analogue lines or sell new ones – all takeovers and new lines have to be of the digital “SoGEA” type. (Single order Generic Ethernet Access).
Effective immediately, any new contract, service upgrade, or switching will direct customers to a new digital phone line. Ideally, these will be served by the Full Fibre network, or in instances where Full Fibre is not available, a reliable digital alternative will be implemented.
If your business has existing analogue lines you’ll need to talk to us about the alternatives on offer – so please Contact Us to discuss your needs.
Government Guidance on UK transition from analogue to digital landlines
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-from-analogue-to-digital-landlines