Traditional phone lines are being phased out across Ireland, and although there’s no official switch-off date for our landlines, it is coming. Many countries have already announced the final switch-off date which is not too far in the distant future. Even though Ireland has no set date, it doesn’t stop the fact that traditional PSTN and ISDN phone lines are outdated and running out of time. Thankfully, there are futureproof technologies taking over from landlines, and many businesses are making the change now rather than waiting for a final switch-off date.

In this article we’re going to dive a little further into the PSTN switch-off and what businesses should be turning to now.

What is PSTN?

PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. The network comprises of a traditional copper wire telephone system which was originally put in place for analogue phone calls. PSTN phone lines are an 20th century infrastructure, which is being recognised as outdated across the world. Luckily, the replacements are far superior, and businesses can already take advantage of them.

Protecting your business

If your business is still relying on traditional PSTN services, then you need to look into switching over to a VoIP telephone system. Don’t worry if this means nothing to you now. By the end of this article, we will hopefully have given you a better understanding and a clear pathway of what you need to do.

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and it works by using the internet to make calls. Internet Protocol telephony offers higher quality calls and increased flexibility, which is vitally important in business now that hybrid working is set to stay.
Many businesses require video calling, conference calls, international calls, and the use of internet communication applications like Microsoft Teams. Making the switch from PSTN phone line to an IP telephony solution, you have two main options, SIP trunking or a hosted telephone solution. Let’s start by taking a look at hosted telephone systems.

VoIP telephone systems

With VoIP, you don’t need to rely on any physical hardware on-site, apart from a handset should you choose to use one. VoIP phone systems are completely customisable, so your phone system can meet the needs of your business. New users and contracts are added as needed. Choosing hosted telephony as the replacement to a traditional phone line offers fantastic flexibility, and keeps your business up to date whilst connecting your team and customers effectively.

We believe VoIP is a business essential for the future and many businesses are already on board with this technology. Here are some of the key benefits of using VoIP:

  • Greatly reduced rental charges
  • Cheaper call costs
  • Free internal calls, even between branches
  • Unified Communications
  • On-site and Cloud PBX Options
  • Easy set-up and training

SIP Trunking

Another option is SIP Trunking. SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) Trunking lets you make calls through your internet connection via an onsite PBX (Private Telephone Exchange). Working in the same way that traditional calls used to, but instead of data going from your PBX to the PTSN line, it goes from your PBX and over your internet connection.

The main benefits of this type of phone line are there is no physical phone lines to make and receive calls, saving you money as well as being a secure and flexible choice. It can also be possible to use your existing PBX infrastructure with a SIP trunk solution. SIP is a reliable and superior way to communicate, it offers more control over your phone line, from the initial set up to adding additional users, its processes are simple.

Managing your business numbers

When you hear all this talk of switching, it’s quite likely you are asking – what about my business telephone numbers? It’s an important question, because for some businesses, having to get a new number is a hard no. Luckily, there’s no need to panic because it is easy to port your number.

Porting your number to an IP PBX carrier is the most effective way of moving your telephone number. The process can take as little as 24 hours after authorisation. Porting your business numbers can eliminate any potential call divert charges.

Making the switch with GoldStar

GoldStar are a leading SIP trunk provider across Cork and Ireland, we are experienced in supporting businesses making the switch over to Cloud Telephony and have saved businesses up to 75% on their business line rentals and 30% on call charges. It’s possible to make large scale savings on international calls as well as National Irish Landline and mobile calls.

Moving over to IP telephony isn’t just about making a switch because traditional phone lines are on their way out, it’s about future-proofing your business communications, keeping up to date with ever-changing technologies and keeping your business a step ahead.

Get in contact with the team at GoldStar, who are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about making a switch.