BT/Openreach is forging ahead with plans to shut its traditional telephone network in Britain, with the intention of moving all customers over to IP telephony services by 2025. The closure of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) is part of the plans by BT to move to all internet-based Voice Over IP (VOIP) calls. The same changes are being introduced elsewhere in Europe and in some places, these changes are already complete.
Those of us who get domestic phone service from Virgin Media (or other providers of high-speed fibre-optic internet services including KC, Hyperoptic, B4RN, Gigaclear, CityFibre, Gigler and scores of other providers of fibre to the premises – FTTP) are already using VOIP services from their ISP.
At present, the bulk of BT’s domestic and small business telephony is delivered to the premises via copper wires. These wires provide the old-fashioned phone service and newer broadband services. The demand for high-speed internet services (100Mbps and faster) is driving the demand for the delivery of these internet services to the premises via fibre optic cables – FTTP. The new fibre-optic cables no longer have copper wires for the old-fashioned phone service.
Boris Johnson has pledged full-fibre broadband coverage by 2025 – meaning availability to access fibre-optic delivered services for every home. Is this a political promise that may not be met within the time scale?
What does this mean for the homeowner and small business?
There are some domestic and small business services that use the PSTN phone line that will need to be changed.
Your home phone will need to be connected via the internet – VOIP. Some changes will be needed to achieve this.
* Burglar alarm systems often connect to the phone line and will need changing. Your alarm provider should provide and fit the new equipment. Cost?
* Personal alarm systems (medical alarms) often connect to the phone line and will need changing. Your alarm provider should provide and fit the new equipment. Cost?
* Fax machines. Yes, fax machines are still in use – alternatives will need to be found.
Just as changing your telephone service provider today usually involves a change of telephone number, the change of telephone service from PSTN to VOIP may involve a phone number change, however, your provider should ensure you can keep your familiar phone number.
Do we still need a landline phone at home?
The popularity of mobile telephones means that very often households (40%) today do not have, or do not use, a landline phone. The landline phone provision in a fibre-optic environment will be an option that may not be taken by many households.
What do you get from your phone company or ISP today?
Today BT/Openreach provides PSTN phone services and (optional) internet. We get:-
* a port into which we can plug a PSTN phone (on the BT/Openreach NTE socket)
* port into which we can plug a router (if we take ADSL/VDSL internet services)
* ethernet ports on the router with which we can connect a computer, TV, etc.
* wireless delivery of internet services for the home (WiFi)
What will you get from your ISP in an all-fibre internet age with no PSTN?
In future, BT/Openreach will provide internet services, ideally on FTTP. We will get:-
* ethernet ports on the router with which we can connect VOIP phones
* ethernet ports on the router with which we can connect a computer, TV, etc
* wireless delivery by the router of internet services for the home (Wi-Fi)
In future, we will get the same and even more – more ports, more speed, more Wi-Fi.
Business telephony
Business telephony users with multiple lines to their premises are probably already using internet-based telephony services. However many small businesses will be impacted by this change.
Geographic numbers.
Historically, call routing was based upon directing the call to the serving exchange and then to the subscriber. The first digit being a 0 indicated a non-local call. The serving exchange was identified by the 2nd to 5th digits. These numbers were used to identify the geography – 01276 Camberley, 01252 Farnborough, etc. There was a need for non-geographic numbers (0800 series) and, of course, the mobile phone had no concept of geography. Numbers that were free to the caller, cheap to the caller etc. proliferated.
There are now a lot of non-geographic numbers in the 09xxx (premium), 08xxx (some free to caller), 07xxx (mobile) and 03xxx ranges, as well as the 01xxx and 02xxx geographic numbers.
Cost of telephony.
Historically the costs for telephony reflected the cost of the infrastructure installed. Local calls were charged at a lower cost, national calls (trunk calls) were more expensive and international calls even more costly. With the development of the phone network over the last 50 years and the use of internet technology to transport calls, the historical (distance-based) cost structures no longer apply. The time-of-day was once a big factor in the cost of a telephone call as a means to reduce peak-time usage; time-of-day no longer plays quite such a big part in call costs. Today all calls are cheap and the distance has very little bearing on the cost. Many call packages allow for unlimited calls, anytime, anywhere in the country; although international calls often remain more expensive. Line rental plays a big part in the cost of landline telephony.
Cost of Mobile phone calls
There is a common view that mobile telephony is expensive for the caller. While this is true, the cost differentials are small and reducing. Many call packages allow unlimited calls to and from the mobile phone. Monthly costs are well under £10.00 for unlimited calls and texts and some data.
VOIP services
I have a VOIP service and can make a VOIP call from my mobile phone (via WiFi or not). I can make a call via mobile telephony as well as via Skype, WhatsApp, etc. I have an older PSTN DECT phone connected to an ATA (analogue telephone adapter) which is connected to an ethernet port on my router – ie: the internet. I can make and receive calls from this phone. It allows call diversion, call-forwarding and has voice-mail services.
I could have a VOIP phone (DECT or not) that would connect directly to the ethernet and enable me to make and take calls. Monthly call package costs are typically around £12.00 for unlimited inland calls. The VOIP services market for home phones is changing quickly and new offerings with attractive pricing are appearing every month.
DECT VOIP phones
BT’s proposed basic domestic phone service
BT is proposing a basic service for VOIP for the 2.3 million phone users who do not have or want internet service. The proposed service will provide 0.5Mbps internet – enough for VOIP calls, but not enough for web browsing. The line termination equipment needs to be powered (by the mains). In the event of a power outage, phone calls will not be able to be made. This may be a significant issue, although it is worth noting that the problem exists today for those who use mains-powered DECT handsets.
Power outage issues with FTTH and VOIP
VOIP line termination equipment needs to be powered (by the mains), as does the ONT, the router and DECT base station In the event of a power outage, phone calls will not be able to be made. There are options for providing backup power for use when the mains power goes out – click here.
Links
http://www.broadbandbuyer.com/store/voip-phones/?t=138
https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/news/the-closure-of-the-public-switched-telephone-network
https://www.bt.com/help/landline
https://www.tfmnetworks.com/your-3-minute-guide-to-the-bt-switch-off/
https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/compare/sim_only_deals/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58233420
https://taking.care/blogs/live-well/will-personal-alarm-work-after-digital-telephone-switchover
which.co.uk
vonage.co.uk
sipgatebasic.co.uk
Surrey Heath – Internet Download Speeds
The 2019 survey of internet download speeds shows Surrey Heath is well above the average (80.9 Mbps download speed) and, in fact, is the best performing borough in Surrey. This is probably due to the fact that both Virgin Media services and BT/Openreach FTTC services are available in many parts of the borough.
Internet download performance in Surrey Heath is better (on average) than any London borough
https://www.comparethemarket.com/broadband/content/british-broadband-index/
