The switch off is coming when the traditional analogue phone network
(the Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN) will reach the end of its life
and newer digital technologies will take its place.
When you consider that 16 million lines and
channels will need to be migrated to alternative products it’s worth starting
to look at other options sooner rather than later.
Beat the rush!
We’ve detailed below some key facts on the switch off but let’s start
with the positives and all the benefits you could enjoy by switching now – in
fact we are confident that you will love the functionality of VoIP so much, that
you will wonder why you haven’t switched before now!
Use your existing numbers
Access from any device of your choice
Use your existing telephones (unless it is time for
an upgrade)
Add or remove new
numbers and manage other users
Voicemail to email
notifications so you never miss a call
Saves you time/money
If all of this has got you thinking maybe your business is ready to take
the next step then speak to Deep Blue. We’ll go over all the details with you,
arrange a site survey if needed and give you all the information you need to
make the decision.
Call 0333 240 9100 or email theteam@deepbluetelecom.co.uk
Key facts from Openreach
Why is the PSTN being withdrawn?
According to Openreach:
‘the equipment which runs the PSTN is ageing and reaching its end of life. This means the analogue telephone voice services that are reliant on this network will no longer be available……. Spare parts are becoming out of manufacture and, additionally, many of the people who designed, built and operated the system are retired or close to retirement so skills are increasingly scarce.’ The current PSTN network will be replaced with a fibre and VoIP network.
What products will be affected?
The PSTN Analogue Lines network currently supports a number of products which, when it is withdrawn, will no longer be available. The key one which will affect business customers is the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). Many companies have telephony systems which use either ISDN2 or ISDN30 channels to make and receive calls. Over 16 million lines and channels are affected by the switch off and will need migrating prior to 2025.
When are the services being withdrawn?
Openreach plans to stop allowing the connection of new PSTN services, like ISDN, from September 2023 however in some areas this stop sell has already been rolled out.
At Deep Blue we currently have funding to offset the cost of new Horizon hardware. Couple this with the Connectivity+ Voucher scheme and there has never been a better time to switch to VoIP.
Funding is available for both existing and new Deep Blue customers, whether you are currently on VoIP or not.
Making any type of change to your business can be a daunting prospect, especially in the current climate. This is why we have put together the following guide on the key points to consider and debunked some of the common myths around SIP.
Is it time to put your system out to pasture?
What to consider
Company Structure
What is your company’s structure? Are you all based in one location? Or do you have multiple sites or homeworkers? How do these sites need to be managed?
With Horizon you can choose how you manage calls at different sites and adapt and change them whenever you need to.
Department Needs
How do each of your company’s departments operate? Are they desk based, out in the field or a bit of both?
Do you have a receptionist or gatekeeper?
Do some staff deal with calls from multiple departments or numbers? Do they need to be able to move in and out of these hunt groups?
With Horizon you can mix and match hardware and apps to give each staff member exactly the setup they need. A handset with side car for reception, laptops with video calling for training, seamless integration of desk phone and mobile app for sales.
The easy to use Horizon online portal allows you to manage your hunt groups at the click of a button. You can move staff in and out of Hunt Groups, re-route calls, add voicemail without the need for an engineer appointment.
The Weaknesses of your current setup
What does your current setup do well and where does it fall short? What are the issues that cause your colleagues problems? Are you missing functions you really need? Are you paying for extras that you never use?
Once you have identified what your main issues are, your Horizon system can be tailored to truly meet your company’s needs.
Cost
They say time is money and in business this is particularly true. Not only are VoIP systems like Horizon cost effective, they can also be setup quickly.
Our fastest turn around was for a company who found out their sales team needed to be able to record calls for compliance. They contacted us at 10am and by 2pm they had three sales staff making and taking fully compliant calls on Horizon.
Adaptability
What changes will you need to make over the coming months? Is your business impacted by seasonal peaks in call volume? Will you need to support staff in working from home as well as the office? Are you potentially going to need to move site due to changes in needs or the end of a lease?
We understand not everyone wants to get into making changes to their phone setup, which is why our support team is on hand to assist you in any tweaks you may need doing.
But for those companies where adaptability is key, Deep Blue provide full training on your Horizon portal so that you are fully in control of your calls.
Present different numbers for different departments. Move staff in and out of hunt groups in response to demand, for example if you are taking more calls due to a promotion. Schedule your calls to route differently at the busiest parts of the day. Feel fully in control with full call stats and analytics.
Still not sure if you want to change?
Deep Blue has secured funding for both new and existing customers to help offset the cost of your new Horizon system. For many businesses, this will make your new handsets completely free of charge.
The Connectivity+ Voucher scheme can also help if you need to upgrade your broadband connection to make full use of VoIP. Our post on the Connectivity+ Voucher scheme has more details.
Service Quality
If you have never used VoIP before you may have reservations about the service quality. Here are some of the key myths debunked.
The call quality is lower than that of fixed line
For many of us, our first experience of VoIP will have not been a good one. Tinny, distorted sound; delays, packet loss and that was if the call got through in the first place!
Early VoIP was subject to many limitations. The broadband connection it ran over, the hardware it used (often built in speakers and microphone on a PC or laptop), the software powering it.
But things have come a long way and modern SIP call quality is more than comparable to ISDN.
It will be expensive
Often the latest tech comes at a price, usually a high one. But SIP is a very cost effective solution. Unlike ISDN, you are not subject to the same engineer costs should you need to expand your system or make changes.
We offer Horizon bundles with inclusive minutes so that you can know what your bill will be each month.
Add in the lower upfront cost of SIP vs ISDN and the savings soon add up.
It is an unproven technology
SIP technology is trusted by thousands of companies, big and small, across the UK. Deep Blue have been running our offices off SIP for more than 10 years.
With the approaching end of life for ISDN, more and more companies are making the switch every day.
The Horizon development team are always working to expand and further develop the service. Taking on feedback from users to constantly improve the platform and it’s functions.
It will be too much hassle to change
Changing phone systems used to be a resource intensive process, often resulting in disruption and extended downtime. The migration to SIP is surprisingly easy and quick.
You can even run Horizon alongside your current system to keep downtime to a minimum.
At Deep Blue we manage the migration process for you, taking the hassle out of the switch to SIP.
What next?
Ready to make the change? Whether you are already on SIP and are looking to improve your system or are looking to jump from traditional telephony, our friendly team is on hand to help you get started.
Still not sure? Our knowledgeable team can answer any questions you may still have. We can also provide demos of Horizon so you can see what the service is like before making any decisions.
Contact us today on 0333 240 9100 or theteam@deepbluetelecom.co.uk
