If you have heard about the digital telecoms switchover, but aren’t sure whether it will affect you or what you need to do to make sure you are ready for the change, we’ve got you covered.
We’re going to run through everything you need to know about the transition from analogue landlines to a digital system in the UK to make sure you understand firstly, whether you’re affected and secondly, if you are, what to do about it.
You may also want to take this opportunity to look at switching business utilities, depending on how you feel about the service your current telecoms provider offers and how well they have managed the digital switchover process for your team and business.
But first, a bit of background.
What is the digital telecoms switchover?
The digital telecoms switchover is the transition from an analogue to a digital system for our landline communication network. This process has been happening over the course of years.
In fact, the telecoms industry announced its decision to move away from analogue systems almost a decade ago.
What this means is that all analogue landline services will be switched off in January 2027, meaning they will no longer function.
Instead, your landline service will be provided through either:
- Voice over internet protocol (VoIP)
- Digital Voice
- All-IP telephony
Do I have to switch to digital telecoms?
Every individual and business will need to make the switch to digital telecoms. This is because the old analogue systems are at the end of their lives.
Telecom companies decided to transition to a digital system because they were finding it increasingly difficult to source the parts needed to keep the old network running.
If your property hasn’t already transitioned to a digital system, your provider will be in touch about the change and should provide you with guidance about what you need to do to ensure that all your devices that rely on a landline connection continue to work.
For businesses, there are many advantages to swapping to digital telecom systems if you haven’t already.
These include reduced costs, the improved functionality offered by digital telecom devices over their analogue counterparts and its availability in more remote locations.
What devices are affected by the digital telecoms switchover?
While landline telephones are the obvious devices that will be affected by the switch to digital telecoms, they are not the only ones you need to consider.
Other affected devices include:
- Alarm systems
- Telecare devices and personal alarms
- Fax machines
This is because these devices can be connected to a landline phone system. As a result, you will need to make sure that any devices you use are compatible with the new digital telecom system.
If you operate a business that provides either home alarms or personal alarms/telecare devices, this will be of particular importance. It will be essential to check that everyone who uses your system has a device that will continue to work with the new digital system.
In the case of personal alarms, this is especially important. Many people who carry these devices are vulnerable and are likely to be older, which means taking the time to explain the value of the switchover will likely be important.
Reassure them that, with the right kind of device, they will still be safe and have the ability to call for help should they need to.
One concern that those who carry personal alarms might have is what will happen in the event of a power cut. This is because personal alarms rely on the base unit to work, which is plugged into mains power.
Of course, in a power cut, internet routers often go down because they need power to function. In the case of personal alarm systems, the base unit is usually equipped with its own battery to ensure its functionality should mains power fail.
In addition, you could talk about any options for personal alarms that use a SIM and GPS that you offer as an alternative to give your customers peace of mind that they will still have help available no matter what.
As a business, what do I need to do ahead of the digital telecoms switchover?
Your telecoms provider should be in touch with you (if they haven’t already) about making the switch to digital services. They will explain how to upgrade your connection and can provide you with an appointment to do so.
If you’re not sure whether your premises have already made the switch, contact your provider and ask them.
Another sensible step to take is to create an inventory of all of the devices in your premises to check which (if any) work via an analogue wall socket.
Similarly, now is also a good time to assess your products and services to see whether any of these will be affected by the switch from analogue to digital. Once you know which devices, products or services need to be upgraded, you can reach out to your customers to let them know.
This is also a good opportunity to update any devices that may be nearing the end of their life, with or without the digital switchover.
How easy is it to switch to digital telecoms?
Generally the switch over is very simple. Your telecoms provider will take care of replacing the existing infrastructure and connecting your building to the new digital phone lines.
Depending on what kind of devices you use, you may even be able to continue using your existing phone after plugging it in using an adapter, such as if you use a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) phone.
However, if you are upgrading to a full-fibre broadband service, you’ll need to have the fibre optic cables that enable this kind of connection installed in your premises.
An engineer from your phone company will usually attend to carry out this work, which often takes a few hours. However, once these cables are installed and your service is up and running, you can be confident that you’re ready for the digital switchover.
