The Big Switch Off: What is it and what does it mean for me and my business?

In 2025, the UK will see its longest-standing communication technology come to an end! Making or receiving calls via traditional phone line will no longer be available and instead, telecoms will take place via VoIP systems.  

Why is this happening?  

In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the way businesses operate, with more and more companies moving away from traditional legacy products and towards newer, more efficient technologies. One of the biggest changes in this shift has been the switch from traditional telephone systems to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems. This switch, commonly referred to as “The Big Switch Off,” has many benefits for businesses that choose to make the switch.

What are the benefits of VoIP systems? 

Firstly, legacy products are often expensive to maintain and upgrade. Traditional telephone systems, for example, require costly hardware and infrastructure, along with ongoing maintenance costs. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly difficult to source repair parts or even the engineering knowledge to carry out the repairs.  In contrast, VoIP systems are typically much more affordable, as they use existing internet connections and require minimal hardware.

Another benefit of the switch to VoIP is increased flexibility and mobility. With traditional phone systems, employees are typically tied to a specific location, as the physical phone needs to be connected to a specific line. However, with VoIP, employees can make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection, allowing for greater flexibility and productivity. This is especially important in today’s world, where many employees work remotely or need to be mobile as part of their job.

Finally, VoIP systems offer a wide range of additional features and benefits that are simply not available with traditional telephone systems. For example, VoIP systems often include advanced call routing and forwarding features, e.g.  making it possible to answer work calls from the business number from your mobile on the go, just as if you were sat at your desk in the office.

They also provide voicemail-to-email transcription, and video conferencing capabilities. 

These features can help businesses to improve communication and collaboration, as well as streamline their operations and processes.

So what happens next? 

By the end of 2023, products such as ADSL Broadband, Superfast FTTC and new PSTN phonelines will be placed in a state known as ‘stop-sell’  in order to phase out the legacy systems. This will allow 2 years to continue using current equipment whilst introducing the required new equipment. By 2025, in order to make phone calls, you’ll need to do so through a VoIP system or use your mobile data so now is the time to make the switch to VoIP and start reaping the benefits.  

Where do I start? 

At Dolphin ICT, we provide high quality customisable VoIP telephone systems to integrate seamlessly with your business. We use business grade equipment with advanced features to provide reliable services with minimal issues. We’ll work with you to identify what you need and recommend the most effective and cost efficient solutions for your business needs. 

If you’d like to find out more about the ‘Big Switch Off’ and how we can help, get in touch with one of our team today.