The reason this is happening is to improve the capacity of the network. Historically we run both phone and broadband down a single line, splitting it in half. By removing analogue from the network, the full cable can be used for broadband, increasing speed capability.
If your business has already made the switch to digital, well done! You can happily sit back and watch the craziness happen and feel chuffed that you upgraded, probably saved money and have a more flexible phone system for your business! If on the other hand you are the 60% that is still left to make the change, you need to read on.
You are probably getting nonstop calls about this. The reason for the calls is that they can look up your line before they call you and check if you are still on the analogue system. So you can’t pretend that you have switched over, your network status gives it away. So the only way to stop the endless calls is to switch.
Analogue switch-off isn’t going away. It is like the switch off of analogue TV, it will happen, it’s just a matter of when you choose to migrate. Here is my big concern. Porting a phone number - which is the process of migrating your number off the analogue systems and onto a digital platform - can sometimes be challenging. Porting takes 10 days minimum to process (due to Ofcom regulations), but don’t worry the number still works during this time. However, it also takes humans to migrate the number from the legacy system. If everyone leaves it till the last minute, porting numbers has a high chance of failing, causing the possibility of downtime for those that leave it to the last-minute as the porting capacity is hit.
Many telecoms suppliers may also appear less keen to migrate you now, and that is because they are making more money off you at the moment. The digital supplier market is much larger than the analogue one, so you now have a larger choice of supplier to choose from and you may find that your current telecoms supplier is taking advantage. New telecoms providers also have more flexible pricing structures. Long-term contracts should no longer be signed up for. With cloud phone systems, they are no longer required, just pay for what you need on a monthly basis. The wholesale prices of analogue services are also rising at rates higher than inflation, as this is the gentle processes of trying to push you off the old technology. So you will be paying a lot more than you need to be if you stay on the analogue technology.
While switching your telecom provider might not be high up on the list for your business, now is the time to find your new telecoms supplier and get upgraded to digital, or face the mayhem with everyone who left it too late.
Written on 18/03/2024 by Juliet Moran
As the Technical Director at TelephoneSystems.cloud, I bring over 27 years of extensive experience in cloud technology. As a woman in the tech industry, I am committed to paving the way for the next generation, demonstrating that innovation in technology should be inclusive of both women and men. My goal is to inspire and empower future generations to actively contribute to the advancement of technology regardless of gender.
