Are You Ready For The Two Big Telecoms Changes?
The telecoms industry is always in a state of flux with new innovations and services being launched almost daily. It may therefore surprise you that 42% of businesses, that’s 2.4 million, still rely on PSTN or ISDN networks rather than the latest digital VoIP networks.
If you’re one of the 2.4 million UK businesses still using a ISDN/PSTN telephone line, you need to know your options now.
What Are The Two Big Changes?
1. The BT analogue switch off is happening now
If you’re one of the 2.4 million UK businesses still using a ISDN/PSTN telephone line, you need to know your options now.
BT is already forcing customers to transfer to digital VOIP systems and plan to switch off all analogue lines by 2025. You’ll be able to retain your telephone numbers, the switching to a cloud-based system could take several weeks to complete.
As a trusted procurement partner, we can guide you with the transition to a low-cost, efficient system that’s ideal for your business operation. There’s no obligation for you to make the change with us and our telecom partners, but at least you will know what’s involved and the questions you need to ask.
Go to our Business Telecom page for full details of what we can do.
2. Auto-renew for small businesses is no longer permitted
One of the biggest problems businesses face when attempting to upgrade their telecom system is that they’ve un-knowingly been renewed by their existing provider for several more years!
Missing the 3 month notice period is easy to do, but for businesses with 10 or less employees, Ofcom has stated that providers can no longer auto-renew the contract without permission.
Go to our Business Telecom page for full details of what we can do.
The Advantages of VoIP over PSTN, ISDN
Established in the 1800s, PSTN (or Public Switched Telephone Network) is a single copper line and allows for the transmission of analogue voice data. While a call is being made, the line cannot be used for anything else.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) was launched in the 1990s and allows both data and voice on the line and when scaled up with multiple channels, gives businesses the option of hundreds of lines, group call queues, hold music, etc. ISDN led to the boom in internet connectivity with more stable and faster internet speeds.
Today, VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) allows you to make low-cost telephone calls to anywhere in the world using light technology via a fibre optic line. A voice call is converted into data and transmitted over the internet.
On receiving the call, the information is converted back into your voice with clarity and without delay. Support can also be given remotely in minutes. VoIP is the broadband supply providing all your business’s voice and data requirements like voice, email, data systems and browsing the internet. Benefits of VoIP are:
- Low cost or free calls.
- Operational agility – work from anywhere.
- Versatility of features with many more options.
- Conference & team calls with ease.
- Efficient client engagement with meetings on the go.
- Disaster recovery – calls can be diverted to any device.
Meercat has a great deal of experience in helping clients with telecoms and if you’d like to discuss this further, please call us on 01444 416529 or email savings@beyondprocurement.azurewebsites.net