Did you know that BT is planning to “switch off” the UK’s entire traditional phone line network by 2025? Five years might sound like a long time, but the reality is that if you rely on traditional phone lines for your business, the switch off means you’ll probably need to change your telephony to internet-capable phones by 2025.
With the rise of broadband and endless leaps forward in technology, the older traditional PSTN and ISDN phone lines have become archaic and outdated. Fibre has become the new standard and shutting these older lines off is part of plans by BT to move to fibre for both voice calls and data.
With the switch over inevitable and unavoidable, it might be wise to get ahead of the curve and make the change soon. If you change over to a VoIP (Voice-over Internet Protocol) phone system, you can remove a lot of potential headaches down the line AND save your business some money in the process.
If you have a traditional phone system, you will have no choice but to replace it by 2025 with an alternative system or make changes to your current system to ensure compatibility. As of 2021, BT will not be accepting orders for traditional phone lines either.
Don’t fret — while changing will eventually be mandatory, there are huge upsides for businesses. The most attractive aspect of VoIP to businesses is its cost; it’s cheaper to run than traditional telephone systems. Some businesses can save as much as 40% on call costs compared to their previous system.
VoIP also means that costs of adding phone lines and adapting your phone network as your business grows is cheaper and easier. If you consider how much money that could add up to before 2025, making the move early becomes something of a no-brainer!
There are other benefits to switching over too. These include:
- VoIP has fantastic call handling features — easy transferring, automated receptions, hunt groups and auto assistant are among a whole suite of options.
- Conference and video calls can be available at the touch of a button — no faffing about with numerous programs!
- When you plug a VoIP phone in to a data connection or use a softphone anywhere in the world, it retains the same phone number, ideal for an age of flexible and remote working.
If you have painfully slow internet speeds where you work, installing VoIP means it might be time to upgrade your broadband too. However, the system is already suitable for most businesses across the UK, though if your internet is slow we can suggest different options for you.
If you’re considering upgrading your current exchange lines or phone system, but want to talk about exactly what is involved and exactly how much money you could save, give us a call on 01237 420010 to find out more.
