Openreach price increases are coming, what does this mean for your business phone bill?
Throughout 2024 any businesses still using old style phone lines like ISDN or analogue connections will see increases being applied to their phone bills. In this article we explain why.
The BT Switch Off and why it means my phone bill will go up?
The PSTN/ISDN BT copper switch off is going to affect your business if it uses analogue or digital phone lines. BT have been phasing out these archaic lines for many years now, and you have until 2025 before they are completely switched off. You will also notice price increases from your supplier between now and 2025. The reason the cost of these services are rising is to compensate for the new technology that will replace the old. It is also becoming more and more expensive to maintain this older technology as many businesses have already moved to VoIP.
BT Openreach can no longer support the ageing Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). As such, it intends to switch off all ISDN and PSTN services by December 2025. The impact of this switch off is already being seen in some parts of the country, with services already being impacted. This includes ISDN30, ISDN2, and PSTN Multi-Lines.
What should my business do?
Your business needs to be prepared and act before these phone lines are stopped completely. Consider asking a nationwide business telecoms specialist such as MF Telecom Services Ltd to conduct a review of your setup and provide you with a roadmap of what needs to be done. Then consider migrating these lines sooner rather than later.
What will take their place?
Fibre optic-based internet technology will replace traditional copper telephone lines. In addition, we will see non PSTN aligned broadband products such as SoGEA broadband. It’s time to start thinking about the alternatives so that you are not adversely affected when it happens. However, it’s important that you acknowledge what is happening sooner rather than later and do not leave it until the last minute to make the necessary changes.
What else will it affect?
The PSTN/ISDN switch off will not only affect phone lines. It may also impact alarm systems, credit card payment machines, CCTV and lift alarms as these services can run on PSTN lines.
We advise you to look at the services you currently use that will need to be migrated, in order to avoid any last-minute panic or long lead times for the installation of new ones. If you act now, you’re more likely to get the best opportunity to take advantage of all the benefits that SIP and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services have to offer sooner rather than later.
