A word on…the PSTN switch off
David Stonehouse, Technical Director at NG Bailey IT Services, explains what building managers need to know about the PSTN switch off.
The deadline for Openreach to turn off the traditional landline system – Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN) and Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN) – as part of the UK’s move to digitise the network and shift to Voice IP Services is fast approaching.
Despite an extension being granted for critical national infrastructure and vulnerability services, such as organisations using telecare systems, which pushes the date back from December 2025 till 31st January 2027, most consumers and businesses have 16 months or less to prepare.
The ‘big switch off’ will be the largest ever update to the UK’s communications network. But what does this mean for building and facilities managers? And how should you prepare for one of the biggest changes in decades?
This depends on the type of building you’re managing, and the organisation you work for. At NG Bailey, we’re working with businesses across the UK to help them prepare for this shift. Here are our top tips for switch off success.
Contact BT Openreach
The hard deadline for most is December 2025, but the switch off is already underway in some parts of the UK. A good first step is to contact BT Openreach to find out when the switch off is happening for your area and local exchange. This will be crucial to understanding your timeline. Then assess your connectivity requirements and consider the right solution for your needs. It may be as simple as switching to mobile data points but remember this can be challenging particularly in older buildings where there are often ‘blind spots’.
If you are operating a building which is deemed part of critical national infrastructure or operates vulnerability services, this assessment will be key, as the connectivity these buildings require is likely to be more complex and need careful network design and development.
Audit existing lines, products and services
Next, look at your connectivity requirements and what you’re using your existing lines for.
Most businesses typically have one of two solutions, either cheaper ISDN-2 lines, which are the preference for small businesses that opt for dedicated connections between two devices, or ISDN-30 lines which offer 30 channels and up to 10 direct dial inwards (DDI) numbers per channel. The latter option is the most prevalent in the market and means businesses often have either telephone exchanges or hosted solutions on their premises.
Remember, however, it’s about more than phone lines. Consider how end points such as alarm systems interact with the exchange – is it direct via an analogue connection to the exchange, a dedicated ISDN-2 digital service, or private branch exchange?
This is a vital step for critical national infrastructure and vulnerability services which use telecare devices that enable more than two million people to call for help in emergencies.
These systems are more complex to connect to the new VoIP systems, which means most integrated service providers are looking at new products and systems such as Single Order Transitional Access Product (SOTAP), which doesn’t require an active broadband connection.
Systems like SOTAP are vital to ensuring vulnerability telecare devices and critical national infrastructure are still functional in the event of a power cut, and that the shift can happen by the 2027 extended deadline. Taking time to audit and gain insight will be crucial to successfully upgrading your building.
Seize the opportunity
This change is impacting everyone and presents a brilliant opportunity to future-proof your assets. Check what hardware you actually use, what you no longer need and what could be the most beneficial to your business in the future.
Whether you decide to move processes virtually to the cloud, rationalise the technology investment, or invest in systems that deliver the benefits of Industry 4.0, it’s important to invest in a solution that doesn’t just solve the problem in the short-term, but can adapt to the constant evolution we’re experiencing with connectivity. It could even provide the impetus to look at fast growing services such as Private Wireless 5G.
Find an expert partner
Whether the necessary changes are minor, such as telephony adjustments, or major, involving alterations to how lifts, telecare devices, and alarms connect to systems, preparation now is key.
Building and facilities managers that are responsible for critical national infrastructure or telecare vulnerability services, or that are unsure about the best approach, should contact their service provider, or experts in integrated IT infrastructure, like NG Bailey’s IT Services to support their transition.
Having an expert partner can significantly reduce the stress, cost and time outlay. In our experience transitioning can take as little as weeks, but equally for some solutions it
may require several months. This spectrum exists because of the unknowns; by working with a unified communications partner like ourselves, we can support with auditing your requirements and looking at solutions which are currently available, or soon to launch, providing support throughout your transition.
