Fit to switch
Welcome to Fit To Switch: the home for UK media, businesses, policy-makers and consumers who really want to understand the pros, the cons, the risks and the implications of Britain’s impending switch-over to fully-digital data and voice services.
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Warning: danger ahead
Just like we had to throw away those bulky old TV sets when television broadcasting went digital, so we need to throw away a lot of long-standing, trustworthy equipment in our businesses. It’s analogue equipment, and it simply won’t work in an all-digital future. The problem is that the government (and Ofcom, the regulator) sees it as just an internal replace-and-upgrade problem for the telcoms industry. So, no £200m multi-media advertising campaign this time around, like there was for the TV switch-over. In reality, though, it is a major threat to business continuity and productivity. Your fire alarms, franking machines, automated IT back-ups, lottery terminals, emergency call-lines in lifts – even vending machines – all need a first-principles review to make sure they are not hard-wired into a network which will no longer work once the all-IP switch-over takes place in 2027. If you or your business relies in any way upon those old, familiar copper telephone wires, you need to take action NOW, before the old telecoms network gets switched off, to make sure you’re Fit to Switch.
That doesn’t just mean the phone you and your switchboard use to make and receive calls. It means the lines which provide your card payment services. Or your automated burglar alarms. Or process control alerts. Or the emergency calls from your lifts. Fit to Switch is funded entirely by the UK’s independent telecommunications providers. It’s the national brand and stamp of approval that businesses can look for when seeking to migrate their communications and IT assets over to a fibre connection for the All-IP world after the UK’s PSTN copper network is switched off in 2027. Double-check that little cupboard behind reception: if you or your business rely in any way on long-standing phone-based equipment, you need to take action NOW, before the old telecoms network gets retired: make sure you’re Fit To Switch. Businesses can use the Fit to Switch website, events and resources to ensure they will be ready to switch over, keep their customers satisfied and improve and adapt to their own developing needs. Businesses can be confident communication and IT providers who are approved to use the Fit to Switch logo are in a position to assist in transitioning your network. Our resources can be accessed via the website and a series of events to ensure your company isn’t left behind.
Mat Swift Co-founder, Fit to Switch Publisher, Comms Business Mark Allen Business Publishing
Chris Pateman Co-founder, Fit to Switch
Adrian Barnard Co-founder, Fit to Switch
WHY?
Because switching from the UK’s ageing analogue telephone infrastructure and moving to an ultra-reliable all-digital future isn’t just a question of unplugging kit from one terminal and plugging it in to a new one.
Britain’s analogue telecoms network is losing reliability and becoming ever more costly and problematic to maintain. With the nationwide roll-out of high speed fibre, the time has come to retire the legacy network. But that means making sure old, reliable business services will still be available on the new network. We are moving from a network which ran 48Volts DC down the phone lines and into the automated diallers on your alarms and office equipment to one which is innately passive and requires you, the user, to provide the power and initiate the signal. It’s the biggest change to telecoms since the launch of the internet. But it’s all a bit ‘technical’ so nobody’s really talking about it. Most business users don’t even know it’s coming. But the deadline’s looming and if you want to make sure your risks are managed, the time to get up to speed is now. Right now Fit to Switch will explain what this means. And help guide you into the kind of questions to ask the people who provide your overnight IT back-ups, your keyholder alarms or the emergency phones in your lifts. Fit To Switch is an all-industry, supplier-agnostic initiative to help you anticipate, identify and manage that change in your business.
To make sure everybody’s Fit to Switch, please follow the pathway that best suits your interest:
BUSINESS USERS
POLICYMAKERS AND PRESS
PERSONAL USERS
Latest news
Comms Business February 2025
Comms Business March 2025
Comms Business April 2025
Will your business be Fit to Switch?
Introducing our National Champions. Find out more information from the industry experts about the copper* switch off and how they can help you enhance your broadband network infrastructure, to keep your business up and running as you transfer all your mission-critical systems, as well as your voice and data, to the new national IP-only broadband network.
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Fit To Switch is an independent touch-stone that businesses can use to ensure they will be ready to switch over, keep their staff safe and their customers satisfied
* To be strictly accurate, not all copper infrastructure is affected: but business services over what is known technically as PSTN and ISDN 40 are being withdrawn.
Britain’s analogue telecoms network has served the nation, public services and industry well. But it’s pre-war technology, and it’s had its day. The new high-speed digital network may well require old equipment to be stripped out entirely and replaced with a modern, digital alternative. Fit To Switch is an all-industry, supplier-agnostic initiative to help you anticipate, identify and manage that change in your business.
Are you at risk?
An all-IP switchboard and call-forwarding to mobiles is only half of the answer. Who’s managing your key-holder alerts and your emergency recovery? Take a quick self-assessment check and see how your company’s broadband and telecoms estate currently works by taking our short survey (and entering our prize draw for a £100 amazon voucher), or read on to learn more about the copper* network switch-off, things to look out for and how it may affect businesses in your sector.
Find out if your business is at risk
Help is at hand
The Copper* network switch off affects every industry sector, although in some the potential risks are unique to or more prevalent for that industry. Fit to Switch is working with leading publications and trade bodies to ensure that whatever sector you work in, you can receive advice which is relevant to the context of your business needs.
MANUFACTURING
Please complete our survey and if required we can put you in touch with a telecoms industry expert to advise and assist you further.
TAKE OUR QUICK SURVEY HERE
Most British businesses are already reaping the benefits of all-IP telephony. Many of us wouldn’t still be here if we hadn’t been able to re-route calls to home workers during covid, or set up conference calls or remote call-handling. That’s not the problem.
The problem is that up until now, this sexy, modern, highly functional, fibre-based all-IT telephony has been provided in addition to the clunky old-fashioned analogue network, delivering signals over a pair of twisted copper wires just like it did before the war. That old-fashioned copper has always provided robust, reliable old-fashioned connectivity for automatic back-office systems like burglar and fire alarms. Or emergency phones in lifts. Or key-holder alerts via third-party monitoring stations. The sort of things every business needs for peace of mind, but every business hopes it will never need to do anything about, beyond letting an engineer in once a year to check it’s OK and paying a renewal invoice to the service provider. Now that old analogue network’s wearing out, and now other countries are leapfrogging the UK in terms of connectivity and competitiveness, it’s time to pull the plug on most of those legacy services. Like other analogue-digital transformations, changing to new digital kit inevitably offers a wider range of functionality and interconnectivity options. Doing nothing is not an option: the old lines are going to be retired anyway, and most analogue services will fail to operate once that happens. That means a real first-principles audit of the automated equipment you’ve already got – some of which may have been around for years, and never really thought about from one financial year to the next. Followed by a similar first-principles appraisal of what you really need, and what you might ideally like.
What happens to you when that fail-safe network gets withdrawn?
Contact us
Email us at emily@fittoswitch.co.uk to tell us what industry you would like to hear more about.
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Please click on the sector you operate in to find out more information
EDUCATION
Press and policy-makers
Fit to Switch aims to ensure the people responsible for ensuring UK businesses are competitive and UK consumers are safe don’t get caught out having to manage the unexpected or unintended consequences of retiring the copper* telephone network. This section of the website aims to provide resources and intelligence, enabling researchers and journalists to gather content to inform their own understanding of the risks and rewards associated with the switch-off decision.
Will your constituents be Fit to Switch?
Introducing our National Champions. Fit to Switch is underpinned by the intelligence and experience of some of the best-known and best-regarded names in business to business telecommunications. Each of our National Champions has already developed high-quality resources to help local resellers of voice and data connectivity hand-hold business and public-sector customers through the transition. Get in touch with their press and public affairs teams through the links on the right. Or contact adrian@fittoswitch.co.uk for campaign comments, opinions and suggestions.
Britain’s move to all-IP voice and data, running over modern fibre optic cables, has largely been a success story. Especially since a series of government initiatives in the last decade liberalised the market and encouraged private money into building-out modern high-speed networks.
But there are two risks with digital by default. The first is that fibre optic cable only works if there is mains power to light it. The second is that lots of legacy equipment, providing everything from remote fire and burglar alarms to emergency phones in lifts, is essentially hard wired to the old copper network, which provides its own 48 Volt DC signal. We know that power cuts are an issue. Especially when vulnerable individuals find themselves unable to call relatives or emergency services because their telephone has stopped working. The experience of Storm Arwen in November 2021 provided graphic real-life evidence. Ofcom, with its joint responsibilities as both telecoms regulator and consumer protection body, has mandated 1 hour battery back-up for handsets sold to vulnerable consumers. Judge for yourself whether 60 minutes is a reasonable duration for a power cut. Especially in remote areas. Or whether officially designated ‘vulnerable’ customers are the only ones who might need to make calls when the power goes off. The question of hard-wired legacy alerting systems has received much less attention so far. Even in areas like the orange pull-cords and remote monitoring services in sheltered housing and nursing homes. For most of Britain’s businesses – who may be relying on burglar alarms to alert key-holders, on automatic overnight IT back-ups or on functioning emergency phones in their office lifts – the issue is all but invisible. Which is why Comms Business, the leading information source for business telecoms providers, has launched the Fit To Switch campaign – an all-industry effort to alert customers and business users to the risks before the copper network is retired in earnest in 2027.
Personal users
Most domestic landline users in the UK are already comfortably using all-IP handsets, and probably haven’t even noticed the difference between plugging in to a telephone box and plugging in to a broadband router. Except that the handset also has to be plugged into the mains. Please read on to learn if the copper* switch-off will affect you, and to find out more about what you may need to consider.
Will your telephone be Fit to Switch?
Introducing our National Champions. Your first port of call for any questions about how your telephone landline will work after the copper* switch off is, of course, your own existing telephone provider. The same is true for your mobile phone – especially if you are elderly, live alone, or are an otherwise ‘vulnerable’ customer, for whom telcos can often make priority provisions in the event of a power cut or system outage. Fit to Switch is an all-industry campaign aimed largely at ensuring Britain’s business users are fully equipped to anticipate and benefit from the move to all-IP voice and data. Our National Champions are industry experts in business and public-sector telephony, and work with specialist local resellers to provide expert advice, intelligence and case studies to help manage the complexities of business-to-business telecommunications.
Many of us have already made the move to digital telephony without even noticing it. Modern phones which have to plug into a power socket as well as a telephone socket are already giving us digital voice services – as well as useful added value functions like built-in answering machines, last-number recall or speed-dialling favourite numbers.
The big issues for individual users is that our telephone needs both the phone socket AND the power socket to work. So in the event of a power cut, we can no longer just pick up the phone and let people know we’re alright (or, worse, that we’re NOT alright). Ofcom, the industry regulator and consumer protection body, has decided that ‘vulnerable’ consumers must be offered phones with battery back-up that will last 60 minutes. Decide for yourself if an hour is long enough. Of course, many of us also have mobile telephones. Indeed, many of us these days ONLY have mobile phones. As long as your mobile phone is charged and your mobile network is not overwhelmed with calls and there is either mains power or auxiliary/battery power to the company’s nearest phone mast, you should still be able to make mobile phone calls. Most of the care lines used in sheltered housing and similar environments these days also rely on digital telephony and mains power. Those that don’t, and use the old ‘always on’ copper telephone network will soon be redundant, as BT retires the “Public Switched Telephone Network” (as it calls the old pre-war technology) between now and 2027.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing Management partnered with Fit To Switch in the Spring of 2023 to survey factory managers on their understanding of, and preparedness for, the PSTN retirement. The initial results, presented here, demonstrate how big a hill remains to be climbed to ensure business leaders are aware of the potential risks and prepared to address them.
We need to rely on our utilities to work when we need them. But the devil is in the detail… BT is switching off the copper* telephone network and moving everything to an all-digital infrastructure. This might have unintended consequences for anyone who’s buying computer back-up, automatic fire- or burglar-alarms or other business services. Especially if they come from third-party providers. Take our quick survey to see if your business is at risk.
Additional content
The manufacturing page on Fit to Switch aims to host regular sector-specific case studies, articles and news of technical developments, enabling engineers and manufacturing professionals to plan and reflect. Questions, comments and requests for further information should be addressed to emily@fittoswitch.co.uk
Business at risk
Fit to Switch November 2023
Comms Business January 2024
Comms Business November 2023
Startups June 2023
New tech, new risks
Fibre-based web-enabled technology improves connectivity and delivers ‘Gigabit Britain’. But it doesn’t work unless there is power to light it. And the fail-safes, back-ups and fall-overs now fall back to the business user to host and maintain. Will the services we have relied upon for so long still deliver in the event of an extended power outage? How will we know?
Research (as at April 2023)
62%
62% of manufacturing sector respondents had either complete or shared responsibility for the telecoms estate at their place of work.
Only 50% of them said they were previously aware of the impending PSTN switch-off.
50%
However, only 50% even know which of their current services rely upon the copper network.
83%
Now they do know, and now they understand some of the risks, 83% plan to have a good look into the implications for their business.
You need to check your vulnerabilities now. Business owners need to review what mission-critical connectivity looks like for today’s operating environment. And double-check that third-party services will perform effectively when needed. Please read here articles published already in the manufacturing sector highlighting the issues if your communications network infrastructure isn’t ready in time:
CASE STUDY: CARETECH
CASE STUDY: ELECTRICAL TESTING UK
CASE STUDY: CARE UK
CASE STUDY: PROGRESS HOUSING GROUP
CASE STUDY: NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY
CASE STUDY: ELSA AUTO PARTS
CASE STUDY: YARA
The Engineer December 2023
Healthcare
From red pull-cords to fire alarms to lift call-lines – your estate may be at risk if automated legacy equipment has not been re-assessed for all-fibre compatibility. Refurbishments, temporary provisions, well-meaning government initiatives … healthcare is used to constant change. But that may also mean you find yourself running multiple signalling solutions from different suppliers, sourced at different times by different administrations to meet differing sets of needs.
Up until now, it hasn’t been necessary to ask whether those trusty automated services run over modern fibre broadband infrastructure, or whether some of them are still hard-wired into the copper* network. But with that copper network now reaching retirement, it is suddenly crucial to know you have understood and mitigated the risks. If there’s a fire when a building’s unoccupied, what triggers an alarm and who is notified? If computer systems need backing-up overnight, where is the remote storage and how is the back-up activated? If the care-lines need to work in a power cut or the pharmacy needs to take card payments, what is the process?
Find out if your estate is at risk
Text Text
Manufacturing Management May/June 2023
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Research
Education
From fire alarms to lift call-lines, your estate may be at risk if automated legacy equipment has not been re-assessed for all-fibre compatibility. Refurbishments, temporary additions, well-meaning government initiatives … education is well used to adapting to changing needs. But that may also mean you find yourself running different signalling solutions from different suppliers, sourced at different times by different administrations to meet differing sets of needs.
If there’s a fire when the building’s unoccupied, what triggers an alarm and who is notified? If the computer systems need backing-up overnight, where is the remote storage and how is the back-up activated? If the canteen or the bursar’s office needs to take a card payment, what is the process… Up until now, it hasn’t been necessary to ask whether those trusty automated services run over modern fibre broadband infrastructure, or whether some of them are still hard-wired into the copper* network. With that copper network now reaching retirement, it’s suddenly crucial to know you have understood and mitigated the risks. If you use your analogue equipment for alarms like Telecare, then it is not recommended that these are plugged to analogue ports on the back of the phone companies’ router until you have checked any risks with the supplier. These use machine to machine tones (DTMF) and these are not recommended for life critical analogue equipment on the IP network
Agriculture
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If there’s a fire when the building’s unoccupied, what triggers an alarm and who is notified? If the computer systems need backing-up overnight, where is the remote storage and how is the back-up activated? If the canteen or the bursar’s office needs to take a card payment, what is the process… Up until now, it hasn’t been necessary to ask whether those trusty automated services run over modern fibre broadband infrastructure, or whether some of them are still hard-wired into the copper network. With that copper network now reaching retirement, it’s suddenly crucial to know you have understood and mitigated the risks.
Built environment
Retail
Recycling
Sangoma is very excited to be part of the Fit To Switch initiative. We feel as a trusted industry advisor and leader in unified communications it was imperative we use our knowledge and expertise to guide the channel and their customers through the ISDN Switch Off. There is less than 18 months before traditional phone lines will stop working; businesses have to move to VoIP by then; and we have to help them do that in a way that suits their business needs. We need to show they have choices, from keeping the PBX they have to going to full cloud and to anything in between – the choice is theirs.
SWITCH-OFF
National Champions
Innovating, Protecting & Connecting Since 1984. Sangoma is a financially stable and growing manufacturer; a leading provider of unified communications solutions, helping businesses simplify the way they communicate and collaborate. With our knowledge and expertise, we are trusted advisors and industry leaders – 8th consecutive year In Gartner’s Magic quadrant for UCaaS; Frost & Sullivan Leader in the UC Industry for Growth and Innovation and “instrumental in advancing the industry into the future”. Sangoma is uniquely positioned to offer a complete portfolio; by providing and using our own technology, and as the leading developer and sponsor of Asterisk and FreePBX, we can ensure optimal interoperability with our gateways, IP-phones, SBCs.
About us
Useful links
OVERVIEW BROCHURE (PDF)
BLOG
OPTIONS GUIDE (PDF)
WEBINAR (VIDEO)
www.sangoma.co.uk
+44 (0) 1344 269220
europe@sangoma.com
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ sangoma-international
SANGOMA VIDEO INTERVIEW
We have wholeheartedly embraced the role of a National Champion in the ‘Fit to Switch’ campaign because we recognise the urgent need to amplify awareness and take action in transitioning businesses from legacy technology to digital alternatives. Failure to do so will inevitably result in some cases of disruption to business continuity. Our mission is to generate significant attention to the PSTN switch off, enabling businesses to gain a comprehensive understanding of the necessary steps and, with the support of our exceptional partners, discover how technology can simplify their everyday operations, sooner rather than later.
ABOUT GAMMA
Gamma Communications is a leading provider of unified communications and connectivity services. With our extensive expertise and experience, we are uniquely positioned to assist business end users in navigating the PSTN switch off. We offer simple swap options, making it seamless for businesses to transition to modern, future-proof solutions. Our team possesses deep-rooted knowledge to tailor bespoke solutions for each business, ensuring they only invest in what is genuinely needed, without any unnecessary upselling. At Gamma, we focus on delivering value and empowering businesses with the right tools and technologies for their specific requirements, driving your growth and efficiency.
COLLABORATION
PRESS OFFICE
www.gamma.co.uk
+44 (0) 333 240 3000
www.linkedin.com/company/gamma/
ARTICLE
The Countdown to the Future: A Guide to Navigating the PSTN Switch-Off - Part 2
The clock is ticking, and businesses across the UK are facing an unprecedented transformation event—the Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) switch-off at the end of 2025. For over 150 years, the PSTN has been the backbone of communication for homes and enterprises, but its time has come to make way for the next generation of all IP products that will shape our future network. In this article, we delve into the challenges, opportunities, and actions that businesses must take to successfully navigate this transition. The impending PSTN switch-off bears a resemblance to the transition from analogue to digital TV broadcasting…
DOWNLOAD FULL ARTICLE
The Countdown to the Future: A Guide to Navigating the PSTN Switch-Off - Part 1
The PSTN switch-off is inevitable, and businesses must embrace the change and plan for success. With the right partner, diligent planning, and a proactive approach, organisations can transform their communication networks smoothly and unlock the potential of full-fibre, IP-based solutions. Seize the moment to be at the forefront of the future and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. The countdown has begun—let’s make it a journey of growth and innovation. Embrace the change, optimise your communication landscape, and pave the way for a thriving digital future. The future is waiting; let’s journey towards it together…
Investors’ Chronicle: “This hidden winner will benefit from BT’S big idea”
In 2025, BT (BT.A) is going to shut down the UK’s public switched telephone network (PSTN) and move its customers to its Openreach network. This means no more landlines. Soon, all communication will go through fibre-optic cables. BT hopes this move will mean big returns on the billions it has spent on fibre-optics. But under the radar there is another beneficiary of this transition. Gamma Communications (GAMA), a self-described unified Communications-as-a-Service company, provides software that allows customers to make calls over the internet. In effect, this equates to a service that integrates traditional phone lines, mobile phones and the internet.
GAMMA VIDEO INTERVIEW
Daisy Communications is the UK’s leading independent providers of voice, connectivity, mobile, phone systems and cloud services to c. 200,000 (and growing!) direct customers of all shapes and sizes across all industries to connect seamlessly with their customers, suppliers and teams. It’s Daisy’s vision is to make leading technologies available to businesses enabling them to be better every day, supported by knowledgeable people who really care. The company has a mission to connect the UK’s business communities with technologies that are focused on their specific need, providing specialist support to keep Britain working – whatever new technology comes along.
SWITCH-OFF HUB
WHY DAISY?
daisycomms.co.uk
+44 (0) 3300 534 125
twitter.com/Daisy_Comms
www.linkedin.com/company/daisycomms
What’s the difference between Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) and Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)?
As we push to get ready for stop sell, we all need to take a long, hard look at our digital readiness. As explained in several articles throughout this edition, there are big changes coming. The PSTN or ISDN Switch Off means that the copper network the nation has been using for calls since the 1800s is being retired in 2025 and replaced with a fibre network. This will be a huge shift in the way people make phone calls in the UK, as you won’t be able to use traditional landline phones.
Are you All IP ready? Perform a digital audit to find out
When we think of connected devices, our thoughts tend to turn to phones, mobiles, computers and tablets. However, the Internet of Things (IoT) has made connectable devices out of almost everything, from self-driving tractors to everyday appliances like refrigerators. It’s already transforming our lives, homes and businesses and the possibilities seem endless – especially against a technology backdrop that includes the imminent retirement of the copper Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
Five unlikely devices you can connect with a SIM
Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) will be bidding a final farewell to homes and businesses by the end of 2025 to enable new technologies to prosper in this advancing digital age. Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is one of the worthy contenders in line to replace FTTC for good. But before any decisions are made, understanding the difference between the two broadband solutions is a solid starting point to make the right call for your business.
DAISY VIDEO INTERVIEW
Gradwell are a leading UK-based cloud communications provider. Our impressive solution portfolio includes our own business phone system and SIP network, award-winning unified communications leveraging 3CX and Microsoft Teams, business mobile and connectivity offerings. Our mission is to provide businesses with effective communications solutions, empowering people to make the right conversations happen. Gradwell have been working closely with SMEs since launching the UK’s first VoIP services in 1998. We have a huge amount of experience serving this market and are uniquely positioned to help SMEs transition to VoIP as we approach the 2025 switch-off.
www.gradwell.com
+44 (0) 1225 800 800
https://www.linkedin.com/company/gradwell
Preparing for the PSTN switch-off: Pennywell Farm’s journey with Gradwell’s Wave phone system
If you wait until 2025 to move off the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), BT will be inundated and communications suppliers may have far longer lead times. What’s more, there’s plenty to be gained by transitioning sooner. This guide details the exciting opportunities that digital connectivity offers your business. Reap benefits for your business by getting ahead of the PSTN switch-off queue:
Get ahead of the queue for the PSTN Switch Off
Single Order Generic Ethernet Access (SoGEA) is a new service offering that allows Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) access to the internet without the need for a traditional PSTN line. With the national PSTN stop-sell already in place, the onus is on leaders of SMEs to start exploring their business broadband options sooner rather than later:
What is SoGEA Broadband? A Buyers Guide
Pennywell Farm, a leading tourist attraction located in Devon, embarked on a mission to modernise their business phone system ahead of the 2025 PSTN switch-off, partnering with Gradwell to implement the Wave phone system. Like many rural locations, the previous setup was rooted in legacy technology, and the business knew that the time had come to modernise the setup.
GRADWELL VIDEO INTERVIEW
Critical IoT Connectivity can be complex, but CSL makes it easy. Simplicity, service and reliability are at the heart of everything they do. The sectors they work in and the applications they connect are at the highest end of critical communications. CSL plays a vital role within the IoT ecosystem, helping customers and partners to do connectivity, better. Their partnerships with all the major Mobile Network Operators, Monitoring Centres, Integrators and Installers, allow CSL to deliver complete end-to-end IoT connectivity solutions. Whether it’s 5G, 4G, IP, xDSL, or FTTC, CSL has the knowledge, expertise and ability to deliver the best combination for your connectivity requirements.
PSTN SWITCH-OFF
www.csl-group.com
+44 (0) 1895 474 474
twitter.com/CSLGroupLtd
www.linkedin.com/company/csl-group-live/
Selecting the right solution for a post-PSTN world
Careium is a global market leader in digital social care solutions. They offer organisations complete, secure and quality-assured telecare systems for older and vulnerable people, aiming to enable them to lead safe, independent lives. CSL established their partnership with Careium over 10 years ago and since then, have been their preferred supplier of ‘unsteered’ Roaming SIMs. These SIMs are utilised by Careium in many of their different static and mobile devices and are currently installed across multiple regions including the UK and Ireland, Benelux, the Nordics and central Europe.
Helping digital social care solutions
CSL SIMs provide reliable and secure connectivity for Neop's connected locks and access control systems. Neop is a leading European supplier of connected locks, lighting management and access control systems, for use in commercial buildings such as sports grounds, manufacturing premises, storage facilities and community centres. These systems require ultra-secure, reliable connectivity to ensure they can be remotely managed, configured and accessed safely. Neop needed to ensure that their solutions provided maximised access for users, without compromising on security. Therefore, they sought a connectivity partner who could ensure reliability and resilience. For this, they chose CSL.
Secure connectivity for Neop’s connected locks and access control systems
We assume you know the story by now, but public announcements aren’t as forthcoming as the analogue to digital television switchover in 2012. BT will no longer sell new Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) lines in certain areas and Openreach is pushing ahead with plans to completely switch off all PSTN services for fixed lines at the end of 2025. This means that hundreds of thousands of critical applications need to be upgraded – and fast!
sales@csl-group.com
www.facebook.com/CSLDualCom
youtube.com/CSLDUALCOMLTD
www.instagram.com/cslgroupltd
CSL VIDEO INTERVIEW
We began back in 2004, from a founding group of 12 members to a thriving trade association representing 100+ companies in this extremely dynamic industry that has developed significantly from its infancy. When we started, Voice over IP (VoIP) was a niche part of the telecommunications market. Now it’s mainstream, allowing our members to grow and develop new services as the way people communicate has changed. Our community has developed and grown hugely in this time, constantly adapting to the demands of their customers. Indeed in 2021 we decided to rename ourselves Comms Council UK, changing from ITSPA (the Internet Telephony Providers Association) to reflect the fact that internet telephony was no longer the only service our members provided. The membership is now a mixture of network operators, service providers, resellers, suppliers and consultants involved in a sector that is diversifying rapidly from just voice services to other innovative IP applications.
THE GREAT VOICE SWITCHOVER
Approved supporter
THE GREAT TELEPHONE SWITCHOVER
REPLACEMENT OF THE PSTN
commscouncil.uk
+44 (0) 20 3397 3312
team@commscouncil.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/company/itspa-uk/
Approved Supporter
Fit To Switch provides a platform for the industry to collaborate, own the narrative and ultimately to have their Channel partners upgrade their clients’ networks and be ready for an all-IP world. Tracey Wright, head of Comms Council UK’s industry developments working group and director at Magrathea, discussed what the transition means for the organisation’s members.
Getting the message out
COMMS COUNCIL VIDEO INTERVIEW
Part of AVIRE Global, MEMCO by AVIRE delivers a complete suite of solutions for the lift industry, specialising in emergency lift communications and including SENTINEL service—the only resilient and proactively managed connectivity solution available in the UK. By integrating these critical components, MEMCO by AVIRE offers businesses a streamlined approach to passenger safety and emergency lift communication, providing solutions designed to integrate effectively with a wide range of lift systems and environments.
National champion
www.avire-global.com/en-uk/
+44 (0)1628 540100
sales.uk@avire-global.com
www.linkedin.com/company/avire/
Innovative Solutions: MEMCO by AVIRE is at the forefront of technological advancement, developing solutions that not only enhance lift safety but also address evolving industry challenges, such as transitioning from analogue to digital networks. Proactive Monitoring & Resilience: Through service solutions like SENTINEL, MEMCO by AVIRE ensures critical lift phone systems remain operational during power outages, providing proactive monitoring to address potential issues before they arise. Regulatory Expertise: MEMCO by AVIRE helps businesses stay compliant with industry standards while offering resilient and future-proof communication solutions. Customer-Centric Support: MEMCO by AVIRE partners with businesses to provide tailored guidance and support during critical transitions, such as the PSTN switch-off. Contact Us: To learn more about the PSTN switch-off and how MEMCO by AVIRE’s innovative solutions can support your transition, contact our team today:
What makes MEMCO by AVIRE stand out?
Matthew Davies, Business Development Manager, MEMCO by AVIRE matt.davies@avire-global.com
Gemma Greenway, Business Unit Manager, MEMCO by AVIRE gemma.greenway@avire-global.com
NATIONAL CHAMPION ROLE
Matthew Davies, Business Development Manager, MEMCO by AVIRE, matt.davies@avire-global.com
Gemma Greenway, Business Unit Manager, MEMCO by AVIRE, gemma.greenway@avire-global.com
8x8 is a leading integrated cloud contact centre and unified communications platform provider, serving many of the UK’s best-known brands. 8x8 services are delivered through the 8x8 XCaaS (Experience Communications as a Service™) integrated cloud contact centre and unified communications platform, which includes cloud contact centre, business phone, video meetings, team chat, and SMS capabilities. 8x8 XCaaS is a resilient, secure, and compliant platform, offering the highest levels of reliability with a financially backed, platform-wide 99.999 percent uptime SLA across an integrated cloud UCaaS and CCaaS solution. The 8x8 team has been advising UK organisations on the dangers of not being prepared for the PSTN switch-off for a number of years, with high profile members of the company also senior members of influential advisory organisations like Comms Council UK.
8-STEP PLANNING PROCESS
SWITCH BECAUSE YOU WANT TO
USING CLOUD COMMUNICATIONS
8x8.com
+44 (0) 800 088 2646
For more information on swapping over to 8x8's products: Sue Michaelwaite, verticals manager, sue.michaelwaite@8x8.com Partnering with 8x8 over the PTSN switch-off, e mail Richie Butters, EMEA business development director, richie.butters@8x8.com Media enquires: Craig McGill, EMEA comms lead, craig.mcgill@8x8.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/8x8
https://twitter.com/8x8
https://www.facebook.com/8x8Inc/
8X8 VIDEO INTERVIEW
Openreach is the UK’s largest wholesale broadband network provider with more than 700 Communications Providers (CP) customers using our network to deliver broadband, phone and TV packages to people throughout the UK We're the people who connect homes, mobile phone masts, schools, shops, banks, hospitals, libraries, broadcasters, governments and businesses – large and small – to the world. Our purpose is to build the connections that matter and provide the best full fibre future for the UK. We’re building full fibre to 25 million homes and businesses by end of 2026 and have already built to more than 15 million premises. And we’re not stopping there, with the ambition to get to 30 million by the end of the decade, securing the country’s digital future for generations to come. Our Ethernet products are high-bandwidth, permanently connected, national point-to-point connections for businesses and large organisations. They help you extend your own networks and offer your customers faster, higher capacity products. We also offer Optical products on a national basis with managed wavelength bandwidths of 10Gbps and 100Gbps, offering a range of popular client interface speeds and interfaces. These products enable you to offer a range of premium services, from cloud applications and next generation data centres to high-speed file transfer and business continuity solutions, such as information storage and retrieval. We’re committed to delivering great products, with innovation and brilliant service at the heart of what we do.
UPGRADING THE UK
www.openreach.com
OPENREACH
Matthew Dexter, head of client relationships, Openreach
Telecom Resource has origins dating back to 2002, providing telecoms services to many. It has a track record of moving organisations from one technology to another or from one vendor to another, whilst providing full business continuity. We provide our customers with the ability to use Unified communications such as Microsoft teams, and retain the functionality of their existing voice network where required. Our company has a proven track record in assisting organisations to transition to a digital connected workplace, be it MS teams or other UC platforms over the past 15 years Our Voice Heritage is second to none, so we understand where legacy comms platforms integrate with a business operation, and how vital they are to day to day operations.
www.telecomresource.co.uk
+44 (0) 1923 24 24 24
info@telecomresource.co.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ telecom-resource/
With roots dating back to 2002, Telecom Resource has been dedicated to providing top-notch telecoms services and support. With over 20 years of experience, we have excelled in highly critical environments such as the NHS and Critical Infrastructure. At Telecom Resource, we have formed partnerships with the best providers for connectivity and UC solutions, ensuring that we offer the most reliable services to our clients. Our company has a solid track record of guiding organizations through seamless transitions and integrations to digital connected workplaces, including platforms like MS Teams. Our expertise in voice heritage positions us as the perfect partner to support any organization through upcoming technological transitions.
Background: The Stanlow refinery located in Cheshire is one of the biggest refineries in the UK (770ha site). The refinery’s output meets approximately 16% of the country’s road transport fuels demand. Owned and operated by Essar Oil (UK), the Stanlow refinery has the capacity to process up to 10 million tonnes (Mt) of crude oil a year.
Stanlow Oil Refinery, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire UK
CASE STUDY
Supporting a UK-wide network of over 5,000 local, expert technology providers, Giacom makes it really simple for technology resellers and MSPs to access everything they need to create brilliant technology solutions for UK businesses. Giacom’s market-leading platform, Cloud Market, provides one place where partners can procure and manage Comms, Cloud, Hardware and Billing products and services, from the world’s leading vendors and service providers, and access comprehensive resources to enable their businesses to grow.
ABOUT GIACOM
giacom.com
+44 (0) 3304 333 888
https://twitter.com/GiacomCM
https://www.linkedin.com/company/giacom/
We believe that by supplying the very best Comms, Cloud, Hardware and Billing solutions to UK organisations, through our network of expert Technology Resellers and Managed Service Providers, we will enable businesses to thrive and contribute to a strong UK economy. We are people-focused, working together with our brilliant local, expert partners to achieve our mission.
At Giacom, we’re proud to be supporting the Channel in preparation for the Great Switch Off and the All-IP Future. Our All-IP Partner Pack is the perfect toolkit for partners who are looking to migrate their legacy WLR and Broadband assets to future-proof solutions. With all the information you could need about FTTP exchanges, the Stop Sell programme and Product Withdrawals. Plus, we answer all your burning questions in our FAQ section and there’s even more to be found in the new Resource Hub, including our Campaign Kitbag, Great Switch Off Battlecard and White Labelled End User Leaflet.
All-IP: Great Switch Off Partner Pack
GIACOM VIDEO INTERVIEW
Our values are straightforward. Our values are not about our ‘why’. Our values are about our clients’ ‘why’. Everything we do puts our clients and their customers front-and-centre of business development. We look at trading environments as they are. We draw on accurate data to qualify market opportunities so that our work delivers results. We challenge constructively. We look for lower risk and lower cost ways for our clients to reach their goals. Our clients tell us that they see Larato as part of their team. Pitching in, adding value, and moving businesses forward. That is what Larato is all about.
larato.co.uk
+44 (0) 1494 216 201
enquiries@larato.co.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/company/larato/
Why switching isn’t a priority for most busineses
LARATO VIDEO INTERVIEW
