The death of plain old telephone service: 4 reasons to invest in POTS replacement
With 2023 just beginning, it’s an optimal time to consider your business plans and goals for the upcoming year. If your company still relies on plain old telephone service (POTS) lines, you should add POTS replacement to your list of resolutions, as this traditional infrastructure is on its way out.
POTS – a.k.a. an analog method for providing voice services that involves sending signals over copper wires – has been around since the 1800s, according to TechTarget. In recent years, however, new technologies like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) have gained popularity over POTS lines due to factors such as lower costs and flexibility.
In recent years, there has been a bit of a hub-bub about a potential mass deactivation of POTS in the U.S., according to the Channel Futures article “Setting the Record Straight on POTS Replacement ‘Scare Tactics.’” After the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a memorandum opinion and order in 2019 concerning forbearance from UNE Analog Loop and Avoided-Cost Resale Obligations for price cap incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs), rumors circulated that the FCC had mandated the decommissioning of all POTS lines by August 2, 2022. However, the FCC order involved shutting down only a specific subset of POTS lines operated by facilities-based providers and co-located wholesale clients. Subsequently, POTS lines are not extinct – yet.
Still, this type of traditional telephony infrastructure is undeniably in decline. Here are some of the main reasons to prioritize POTS replacement in 2023 if you haven’t migrated to newer technology already, according to Channel Futures, Dialpad, and MetTel.
1. Declining POTS support levels.
As telecom carriers seek to decommission POTS lines and stop investing in the older infrastructure, you’ll face longer response times for support tickets and more downtime.
2. Rising POTS costs.
POTS prices are skyrocketing as carriers look to transition to newer and more efficient technologies. The traditional infrastructure was also more expensive to start with due to installation and maintenance costs.
3. Accessibility for remote workers.
Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) or VoIP makes more sense than copper wires for modern businesses looking to keep remote and mobile workers connected from anywhere.
4. Scalability.
Compared to traditional phone lines, it’s much easier to scale VoIP or UCaaS when you need to add or remove end users. Many cloud phone systems allow businesses to simply create new accounts via an online portal without a visit from a technician.
If you’re ready to move forward with POTS replacement, the Converged Communication Systems (CCS) team can help you explore your options and determine the best course of action for your business. In addition to UCaaS, some of the business telecom suppliers in our partner network offer convenient “POTS line replacement in a box” options for use cases such as door entry intercoms, fire alarm panels, security panels, gate phones, and so on.
Explore your business phone system options today by calling 877-598-3999 or emailing sales@convergedsystems.com.
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