Are you ready for a full-fibre future? 

The countdown to the 2025 switch-off is on, what does this mean?

The Public Switched Telephone Service (PSTN) is coming to the end of its life. It’s time to think about future-proofing your business by making the move to fibre connectivity.

In its various forms, the PSTN has been carrying the UK’s phone calls since the late 1800s. However, the future is fibre and BT has announced that the PSTN will be completely shut down from December 2025. What’s more, from September 2023 there’ll be a PSTN ‘stop-sell’, which means you won’t be able to order new line installations.

What does this mean for your business? 
With the PSTN no longer available, you’ll need an alternative form of connectivity for your business. By switching to fibre, you won’t only achieve all-important future-proofing. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the exciting benefits of the digital world, which include unified communications across all types of devices, such as mobiles, tablets and PCs, as well as more mobility, easy scalability and lower total cost of ownership.

The full-fibre revolution 
Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband is a fibre optic connection running all the way from a local exchange directly to your business. It’s not only super-fast, but also exceptionally reliable and resilient. Right now BT is rolling out FTTP across the UK, with a recently-announced target of reaching 25 million premises by 2025.

Switching to fibre isn’t just about having faster, more reliable broadband. The FTTP roll-out will support Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, which empower people to work, communicate and collaborate more effectively, using features such as advanced call management, instant messaging, video conferencing and file sharing. Anyone who’s attended a Zoom or Teams meeting during the Covid-19 Pandemic will already appreciate just one of the many benefits of IP Voice technology – the ability to connect with colleagues or customers from any location.
VoIP services are also both cost-effective and flexible. Because they’re hosted in the Cloud, there’s no need for major up-front investment in hardware or network infrastructure, plus you can quickly and easily scale up capacity and make changes to network configuration.

Now’s the time… 
The end of 2025 may seem like a long way off. But the clock’s ticking. BT has already begun trialling the PSTN switch-off in two areas: Salisbury in Wiltshire and Mildenhall in Suffolk, so it now feels very real.

With the undoubted advantages of VoIP for business of all sizes, why wait? All-digital communications are so much better for business productivity and efficiency, particularly as many companies make the shift to home or hybrid working models. Take into account the potential cost savings that IP can bring and making the switch sooner rather than later makes good business sense.

The next step? Get in touch. 
At Cambridge Telecom we’re here to help you successfully make the change to fibre connectivity. There’s no need to wait until your contract’s up for renewal. Many businesses across the UK have already embraced an all-digital model. Advanced communications capability is enabling them to work smarter, deliver better customer service and gain a competitive edge.

Find out what solutions are available in your area to meet your business needs and budget. Call our sales team on 01223 661636 or email  enquiries@cambridgetelecom.com