Openreach to UK businesses: Switch is about to hit the fan. Prepare for withdrawal of the copper-based phone network now or risk disruption
- Reference: 1625128206
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/07/01/openreach_ptsn_warning/
- Source link:
Or so said BT-owned Openreach as it urged businesses to audit their systems for devices that use the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which is scheduled to be switched off in [1]December 2025 . While some products may function normally after the transition, others won't.
In the case of any ambiguities, Openreach told customers to contact the vendor that manufactured their device and seek clarification. Addressing this issue ahead of the switchover may limit disruption, it said.
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James Lilley, director of ALL-IP at Openreach, said in a canned statement: "Ahead of the switch from analogue to digital phone lines, it's crucial that businesses understand their current systems and the implications of the shift.
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"This upgrade will provide the nation with faster, more reliable services and will allow devices to become more connected, providing UK industry with a framework from which it can develop innovative emerging technologies. Taking these simple steps now will make the process of upgrading much smoother."
Businesses can also register with a special help service launched by the infrastructure provider, called the " [5]Call Waiting List ".
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Openreach has set out to retire the legacy copper network so it doesn't have to pay to run two parallel networks. The company has [7]already issued "stop sell" orders in several key areas , which prevents consumers and businesses from buying new copper products, or switching providers for their existing services. Instead, they're pushed towards new fibre-based technologies.
Although it has touted the benefits of improved call quality and reliability, the move to a fully IP-based system has several drawbacks. Most notably, IP devices will lose connectivity in the event of a power outage, whereas those using PSTN will continue to draw a current from the phone network. This extends to phones, as well as other devices, such as alarms.
[8]Broadband plumber Openreach yanks legacy copper phone lines in Suffolk town of Mildenhall en route to getting the UK on VoIP
[9]Ofcom says no price controls on full-fibre broadband until 2031, giving BT's Openreach the kick to 'build like fury'
[10]Switch about to get real: Openreach bod on the challenge of shuttering UK's copper phone lines
[11]Infrastructure wonks: Tear up Britain's copper phone networks by 2025
Last month, the broadband plumber said it would "build like fury" to extend its full-fibre footprint to 25 million premises by 2025. This fibre network will serve as the backbone for both broadband and fixed-line access.
This enthusiasm was no doubt motivated by a couple of sweeteners provided by the Treasury and Ofcom. Openreach owner BT will pay minimal tax in the coming years, thanks to a new "super-deduction" introduced in this year's budget by chancellor Rishi Sunak, which [12]allows companies to write off 130 per cent of the cost of capital investments , such as oh, broadband buildouts.
Additionally, Ofcom has said it will dramatically limit price caps on broadband products [13]until 2031 at the earliest to give the company an opportunity to recoup its costs. ®
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[1] https://www.theregister.com/2019/09/23/huge_copper_line_switch_off/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YN2SQqGHB0z8FF8DEhnMugAAAAU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YN2SQqGHB0z8FF8DEhnMugAAAAU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YN2SQqGHB0z8FF8DEhnMugAAAAU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.openreach.com/call-waiting-list
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YN2SQqGHB0z8FF8DEhnMugAAAAU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/07/openreach_mildenhall_copper/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/07/openreach_mildenhall_copper/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/18/ofcom_throws_openreach_a_bone/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2019/09/23/huge_copper_line_switch_off/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2018/07/11/infrastructure_commission_report_full_fibre_end_copper/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/28/openreach_to_add_1000_new/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/18/ofcom_throws_openreach_a_bone/
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: "Openreach owner BT will pay minimal tax in the coming years"
That's not how it works. Corporation Tax is due to increase. That give companies an incentive to delay capital spending as they might as well pay tax at the current lower rate, then spend to reduce taxes when the higher rate kicks in. By introducing the 'super deduction' the government has reduced the incentive to wait.
In the end it's a win-win. Companies spend sooner which boosts the economy now which is when we really need it.
I can't really benefit from the 'super deduction'. Instead, I'm paying little into my pension this year to max out the CT payment. When the rate goes up, I'll make pension payments to keep my little company in the 19% band for CT.
The future is coming
Or is it?
My small business is in a high density part of London within a stone's throw of the exchange. Ask for an advisory date for FTTP (or even how far we are down the rollout) and an answer there is none. Which complicates planning a little. And silence also from the alarm company too. And if I don't have the router protected by a UPS will that invalidate my insurance? So many questions, so many non-answers. It is as though this has just shot out of the blue.
Re: The future is coming
Probably prove easier to use a GSM card in the alarm system that's protected by the systems own battery to provide the monitoring.
Re: The future is coming
Oh that would be a nice little earner for ADT. And, I guess like Win11, my current kit will all need to be upgraded to accommodate it. Indeed ADT is so near a monopoly I'm surprised BT hasn't bought it.
Re: The future is coming
And of course, expect a big service price hike because it's "fibre", plus the cost of replacing your interface equipment (and the cost of installing a separate UPS if your point of entry is quite some distance from your computing kit - ours are 25 ft apart).
Re: The future is coming
Wouldn't PoE be better than yet another bloody unreliable UPS whose battery will fester, forgotten?
"Openreach owner BT will pay minimal tax in the coming years"
So, after having spent years dilly-dallying and not putting any money into infrastructure, BT is now handsomely rewarded with a guaranteed low-to-nothing tax bill to make it do its job.
Isn't it great to be at the top ?