The End of PSTN

The traditional landline phone system, known as the?Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), is on its way out. With countries around the world planning to decommission the PSTN by 2030, businesses need to prepare now to ensure reliable communications in the future. The answer lies in transitioning to Voice over IP (VoIP).

What is the PSTN?

The PSTN refers to the traditional analog telephone system that uses copper wiring to transmit calls. It originated in the late 1800s with the invention of the telephone and has been the standard for business phone services ever since.

The PSTN relies on a series of physical offices to route calls from the caller to the receiver. When a call is placed, it first connects to the local central office, which identifies the dialed number and directs the call to the appropriate destination. If the call is long distance but still domestic, it passes through a tandem office that covers a broader geographical area and can route between multiple central offices.?

For even longer, out-of-state calls, the call is handled by a toll office capable of managing domestic long-distance connections. Finally, international calls are routed through an international gateway which facilitates call switching to the destination country. While reliable, this infrastructure-heavy system with multiple physical touchpoints can't match the speed and agility of modern digital alternatives like VoIP.??

Why is the PSTN Being Phased Out?

With the rise of digital phones and mobile devices, analog telephone networks are becoming obsolete. Maintenance is expensive for telephone companies as the infrastructure ages. Plus, there is declining consumer demand for landlines as people switch to more flexible communication technologies.

Before transitioning to VoIP, businesses should use?UC analytics and telemanagement reporting?to benchmark their current PSTN usage including number of lines, minutes utilized, and peak calling times. This will allow for proper planning of VoIP capacity needs.

The Benefits of Switching to VoIP

VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, leverages broadband internet instead of telephone lines to route calls. For businesses, transitioning communications to a VoIP system future-proofs their phone capabilities.

• Cost Savings:??VoIP eliminates expensive maintenance of telephone lines and analog equipment. It also consolidates voice and data onto one network, reducing infrastructure costs. Ongoing expenses are lower with VoIP since calls over the internet are much cheaper.
• Flexibility:??With VoIP, calls can be made and received anywhere with an internet connection. Employees can work remotely without missing important customer calls to office desk phones. VoIP also makes it easy to scale up or down the number of lines to accommodate business needs.
• Advanced Features:??VoIP provides a vast array of features the PSTN can’t match, leading to improved customer and employee connections. Options like auto-attendants, intelligent call routing based on caller ID, conferencing, and call recording to facilitate enhanced communications.
• Reliability:??Leading VoIP providers operate on secure private networks, not the public internet. This isolates traffic to prevent outages and ensures voice quality. Features like intelligent call routing automatically send calls down alternate paths if needed, minimizing the chance of disruption.

How to Switch to VoIP

Migrating from the PSTN to VoIP does take some strategic planning:

• Research top VoIP providers that offer the features, reliability, and support your business needs.
• Select phone systems that utilize VoIP technology for calling capabilities.
• Gradually port existing PSTN phone numbers to VoIP after thorough?UC capacity planning.
• Train employees on the new system and its call features.
• Transfer PSTN lines fully to VoIP once the transition is complete.

Looking to benchark your phone usage and make capacity planning a little easier? XT2 Telemanagment is a CDR Reporting tool you'll want to check out.

Start Planning Your VoIP Migration

With the PSTN going away in the coming years, businesses can't wait to move to VoIP. Taking a proactive and methodical approach ensures your company's communication capabilities not only remain intact but improve. Contact a leading VoIP provider to assess your needs and put a transition plan in place.?