INSIGHTS

No customer left behind: Bridging the gap from PSTN to All-IP with Pre-Digital Phone Line

Steve Blackshaw

IP Migration Director, BT Wholesale

While many small, medium and large enterprises have already moved to a fully digital network, some organisations are still lagging behind. BT Wholesale’s research shows that only 31% of IT decision-makers and 16% of employees currently prioritise the move to All-IP.

The reality is, the UK’s analogue copper telephone network has a proud history but is no longer able to support the country’s digital future. The time to move is now. Together, channel partners and BT Wholesale can support all customers for a smooth transition to All-IP (internet protocol).

Copper is out, digitisation is in

The PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) is a network of copper wires originally developed for voice communication and connecting landlines. It has since had other devices attached to it including CCTV, payment terminals, lifts, alarms and more. PSTN has been the foundation of the UK’s communications network for more than 60 years but is now buckling under the pressure.

The PSTN is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain; it is unreliable and prone to faults. Last year, the number of significant PSTN resilience incidents increased sharply by 45%. Moving the UK from analogue to digital connectivity is a once-in-a-generation, industry-wide programme to help future-proof communications for everyone. Recognised as a necessary step by Ofcom and the Government, it’s an investment in more stable, secure and efficient connectivity. And it doesn’t just impact traditional phone lines: multiple connectivity products and access capabilities are dependent upon the underlying PSTN network.

That’s why organisations need to review, test and switch their full technology estates now. That means doing a technology audit to identify what’s still connected to the PSTN; testing the equipment (which businesses can do for free at our R&D test centre at Adastral Park); and switching legacy equipment to an All-IP alternative.

The full retirement of the PSTN is planned for January 2027 but, at BT, we’re urging wholesale partners, other businesses and essential public services to transition before the end of this year to help mitigate the growing risks of communication disruptions, and t0 future-proof operations.

Channel partners should support the same message: switching sooner means reaping the rewards of being a digital-first business. That means more reliable, streamlined and faster communications and ways of working. In a new BT study, 80% of businesses that have already invested in new technologies reported gaining a competitive edge, while 79% said it had helped them reach new customers.

PDPL: A stepping stone to All-IP

While most businesses can be easily switched over to All-IP, given the size and nuances of this national network modernisation, there will be some situations where the switch is more complicated. This includes landline-only and voice-only customers without broadband, and businesses or critical national infrastructure providers with unique edge use cases or devices that simply aren’t compatible with All-IP products on the market today.

It’s crucial that the industry provides a bridge between analogue and digital to ensure no customer is left behind. That’s where our Pre-Digital Phone Line (PDPL) comes in. It’s a dedicated interim service, designed to keep landline-only consumer customers and business customers with specialist connectivity requirements connected while putting them on the road to all-IP.

PDPL offers:

Easy setup: Typically, no engineer visits or changes are needed on-site (apart from in special circumstances like dealing with hot sites).
Great compatibility: PDPL works with many legacy devices, but proper testing is crucial.
Disruption-free: There’s minimal downtime for port and service conversion.
Ready-to-go: It’s designed to work in places where broadband can’t support IP voice yet.

While it is not the final destination – and shouldn’t be deployed as a long-term solution – PDPL represents a critical step for the channel to help enable everyone to make the journey away from legacy technology, and onto the future fit networks that will power the future.