INDUSTRY news
Big Switch - everything you need to know
may be features on the new systems your business will be able to utilise including hold messages, which can be customised, schedules and holiday management along with live call data analysis, call recording and event full call centre features.” When it comes to moving to a cloud based system, Juliet has this advice: “If you have PSTN lines, then you have a choice - go Cloud or you can just add a VOIP service to your router, this will allow you to plug your existing phone into your router instead of the phone socket and still be able to make and receive calls on your business number.” “The huge advantage to using the opportunity to move to a cloud system is that you no longer have to pay maintenance on the system or worry about it failing, it no longer becomes your problem. It also gives you more flexibility, by changing users up or down each month or to work from home, café or beach, as these days it’s hard to make plans for anything. “The Big Switch has the opportunity to significantly improve all our business flexibility and allow companies to respond faster to a changing world. With long term contracts, hidden fees and hardware commitments a thing of the past, you can subscribe to a phone system just like you would any other cloud service.”
phone systems and users will be able to make calls via broadband or mobile data.
Businesses are being warned they’re running out of time to switch phone systems before the UK turns off its analogue telephone system next year. In 2025, as part of the Big Switch, all analogue phone systems will be turned off and instead phones will use the internet to make calls. One provider, TelephoneSystems.Cloud is urging businesses to upgrade now before it’s too late. They say businesses are underprepared for the changes and need to be readjusting now to avoid any unnecessary impact on their business. As well as moving to the new systems, they also need to ensure broadband is upgraded and reliable and upgrade equipment which currently runs on legacy systems including ADSL, FFTC and G Fast to the new SOGEA, FTTP & SOGFAST. Analogue systems are services which have provided the foundation for both broadband and voice connections for many years, but they won’t be available for much longer. Instead of having a physical telephone wire, the new phone systems will operate through an internet connection. In September 2023 phone providers stopped accepting new order requests for broadband or PSTN services using the old copper network. By the end of 2025 PSTN will be switched off and a digital service will take over.
Expert Juliet Moran founder of TelephoneSystems.Cloud said: “The analogue system is due to be switched off in December 2025, and although that may sound like some time away, businesses really need to be switching from their legacy systems to this new way of making calls. “The Big Switch means all businesses and households in the UK will have to transition from ADSL and FTTC to SOGEA & FTTP and use a cloud based/voip phone system. “Once the switch has been made, the benefits will be clear. Businesses will stop paying for voice services that they don’t need or want and will begin to make some small cost savings. If your team is working remotely or on a hybrid model, then the system also means clients can reach them wherever they work rather than having separate numbers if they’re at home or in the office.” Juliet continued: “Switching to an internet hosted phone system is relatively straightforward, but there are things businesses need to take into consideration. “Companies will need new dedicated handsets which teams will need to familiarise themselves with. There
These are known as IP (internet protocol) or VoIP (voice over internet protocol)
www.journalistic.org
22
Volume 46 No.1 March 2024
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker