“Mum, what’s a fax machine?”
When my inquisitive 10-year-old muttered this to me recently, it struck me that this piece of technology, revolutionary in its time, would soon be confined to the memory banks of an ageing generation, much the same as the good old CD or even a USB stick.
As Openreach makes plans for the conversion to a fully IP based UK telephony network, we can expect analogue telephone equipment to become a thing of the past.
It’s about time the UK made attempts to catch up on its European counterparts. Germany will beat us to it; they’ll have completed their digital transformation by the end of this year (2018). France’s aim is 2020. All things considered, a seven-year plan for the UK’s evolution doesn’t seem that daunting.
Openreach have laid out their plans for this transition, in a consultation document which was released to the industry on May 15th 2018.
As a Communications Provider, it’s NGC’s duty to ensure that our customers are well informed of the alternative solutions available in the market place – and to advise on a suitable migration path.
It’s well recognised that a full-fibre to the premises solution is the best and most future-proofed answer. But that’s not always an option - certainly not for businesses located in out-of-town or rural locations. Some small businesses can’t justify the cost of a fibre leased line – so copper-based products are the only option, in the short term anyway.
But don’t worry, there will be a product available for such businesses; routing IP connectivity on a good old-fashioned copper line. This product is curiously named “SOTAP” (Single Order Transitional Access Product). The word “transitional” features in the acronym as if to act as a constant reminder that it is a temporary solution, despite the fact there is no definitive timeline for its permanent replacement.
You’ll be pleased to know that the trusty telephone call continues to grow from strength to strength. Our customers certainly love to talk. Worry not, as Voice over IP (SIP) is here to stay. And with a whole host of features available to choose from and more in the pipeline, yet only 50% of our customers so far converted, I predict a busy few years ahead for NGC’s account management teams…