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In 2015 BT Openreach announced their intention to gradually switch off their PSTN and ISDN services. The telecoms provider began shutting down networks in 2020 and will stop installing new ISDN lines by September 2023. By December 2025, PSTN circuits will be shut off completely, leaving traditional phone lines inoperative.
Due to the withdrawal of BT’s PSTN and ISDN services, you should consider moving your business phone lines away from ISDN as soon as possible.
You may think you still have plenty of time to migrate to VoIP, but for many companies, the migration is happening NOW.
Here’s a summary of the terms we’ll be using throughout our PSTN and ISDN summary:
PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network – the old circuit-switched network that powers traditional telephone lines and cables.
ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. It uses digital transmission to make phone calls and transmit data over the circuits of the PSTN.
Traditional telephony systems, such as PSTN and ISDN systems, run on a premise-based physical box, that is connected by wires to individual phones.
Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is a type of phone system that uses an internet connection to make and receive calls. The eliminates the need for telephone boxes and cables.
The nature of telecommunications has changed drastically in the past decade, so much so that PSTN and ISDN services can no longer offer the fast communication that customers require today.
With that, BT Openreach has decided to stop investing money and labour into a technology that can’t fulfil the needs of the modern business landscape. Instead, they’re paving the way for a fully cloud based network that can meet customer demands as well as the demands of a new technological era.
After December 2025, all PSTN and ISDN services will be switched-off, so traditional telephone lines will no longer work.
Other technology systems that run on traditional telephone lines – such as CCTV cameras, fax machines and point-of-sale (EPOS) devices – will also be affected and will no longer work as required.
Around 2.4 million businesses in the UK still operate on PSTN or ISDN, most of which are SMEs – if you’re one of them you should start planning your move to VoIP today. Your migration to VoIP will dramatically impact your business operations if you don’t leave enough time to plan and implement that correct solution for your business.
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VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol and is a cloud-based telephony solution.
VoIP can also be referred to as “internet telephony” and “IP telephony”.
VoIP services transmit voice and multimedia content via an internet connection. This means phone and video calls can be made from anywhere, at any time, using only a mobile device and an internet connection, which makes VoIP the perfect solution for businesses with remote and hybrid workers.
VoIP typically includes other features that aren’t available with traditional phone systems. These features can include call recording, custom caller ID, and voicemail to e-mail. This is why VoIP is also known as a unified communications (UC) solution.
As VoIP systems are cloud-based, they eliminate the need for telephone boxes, cabling and other on-site hardware.
VoIP phone systems offer a wealth of business benefits, including an easy setup process. For a step-by-step guide on how to switch from ISDN to VoIP please see our handy guide below.
Transform your business today with our innovative and future-proof telephony services:
A hosted VoIP phone system is a unified communication solution that is hosted in the cloud. You can make and receive calls using IP handsets, mobiles or other devices, with the communication delivered via the internet.
Our expert and professional business phone systems enable you to never miss a call and stay connected with colleagues, partners, suppliers and customers.
Providing you with peace of mind and ongoing technical support, DVAD offers a range of maintenance packages. We want to make sure that your system keeps working to support your business, plus any required changes can be rapidly actioned so that you are not hindered by technical issues or faults.
“As part of a major reorganisation of our NHS client’s office space in Harrow, DVAD, who provide the VOIP telephony solution for the office, responded quickly and cost effectively to additional telephony requirements meeting a demanding timescale in an efficient manner. Thank you.”
Tim Pullan, Director, Ingleton Wood LLP
“Dealing with DVAD was a very simple and enjoyable experience. We'd had meetings with other suppliers, and by contrast they were able to instantly recognise our needs and make an appropriate proposal. Crucially all of this was done in a jargon-free manner that was easily understood by the layman. The installation of our phone system was quick, painless and everything worked first-time. The installation engineer was very quick and unobtrusive and also gave us a good basic training session which got us started. Our salesperson Steve was in touch throughout and took care to follow-up afterwards. First class service."
Damien Mullen, Managing Director, Mullen & Mullen
“DVAD have supported the growth of our business since 2004 and currently support our 22 sites from Exeter to Glasgow. Whether it is telephony hardware, security, call monitoring or
relocation of a depot, they have always recommended the right solution for our requirements and
budget”.
Chris Jowett AFI Group of Companies
"We had been approached on numerous occasions by other communication companies suggesting ways of improving our existing Alcatel system, but no other company prior to DVAD offered such a competitively priced upgrade and had such a wealth of knowledge and experience
regarding this particular system."
Jill Sunderland, Personal Assistant, Regent
"We would have no hesitation in recommending DVAD to any company wishing to improve their telephone system."
Jill Sunderland, Personal Assistant, Regent
“Throughout the transition of services from BT Featurenet to DVAD through contact communication we had the confidence that the project was in hand and there was minimal disruption to our service; When any questions did arise we have contacted the operations team who have provided us with clear and concise guidance.”
Sonia Latham, School Business Manager, Flockton CE First School
