BT to close PTSN & move all users to VoIP by 2025 !

The Register has reported that BT has announced that will close its existing public switched telephone network (PSTN) by 2025, meaning everyone will be on VoIP.

The Regster

Lets hope that the market frees up & that BT & ORs effective monopoly is broken up - we shall see, but I think not.

NJSS

Edited by NJSS (Fri 20-Apr-18 05:25:45)

This is all very well, but what about people who don't have broadband..? My 91-year-old mother wouldn't know what VoIP was if it jumped up and bit her in the ankle, so what's in store for people like her..? I'm certain she's not the only one.

Analogue lines work if the power fails too, are BT going to provide free Uninterruptible Power Supplies for everyone..?

Edited by deleted (Sat 21-Apr-18 21:06:40)

Same here my mum doesn't have broadband, she doesn't want broadband. She can't see why she would need broadband - she has a landline phone and calls me! Mind you I impressed her the other week, I went on 4G and reserved an item in Argos for her, think that impressed her!

If/When BT move over to a VOIP system the end user will probably not see anything too different as you will be able to still use your existing telephone.

In reply to a post by robertcrowther:

If/When BT move over to a VOIP system the end user will probably not see anything too different as you will be able to still use your existing telephone.

So how will a VoIP system cope with power failures..? We happen to have a UPS powering our router and other IT kit, but the average elderly homeowner with just a single phone isn't going to have one.

There is two ways that this is done.

1. Battery Backup (like they do for current FTTP customers).
2. Battery Backup in the cabinet (like they do for FTTC).

Either way there should be something in case of power failure.

This is what BT Openreach have to say:-

Fibre Voice Access (FVA)

Through having an analogue telephony adaptor (ATA) built into the Fibre to the Premises Optical Network Termination device (FTTP ONT) at the customer's premises, Fibre Voice Access enables you to deliver a PSTN quality voice service to your customers over fibre. The analogue telephony adaptor interface can support two analogue telephony ports, so any existing analogue telephony equipment and home wiring can be connected to it. You can choose to use just one, or both of these ports.

Source:- BTO

blfamily ( & OP)

The PSTN equipment is old and will not last longer than 2025, ( It will be lucky to last that long!). The last equipment was brought around 1998 and most was prior to 1995 and will be 30 years old. Do you know many people who use electronic equipment 30 years old and would you expect an always available service with it.

The money received by BT for the 'Voice' ( not copper/MPF rental) service would never pay for a like for like replacement, so an IP service is what will cost in. OFCOM have basically driven this by their cost model that has only priced in replacement by cheapest cost technology for the last 8 years to base OR prices on.

Existing phones will plug into the adapter ( ATA). ATA, BBU, and modem can all be designed in one box. All the customer will need to provide is the power socket and (maybe) change the batteries out when a LED indicates. It can even be coded to report low battery for registered (vulnerable) people.

Also enables monitoring of locket / wrist and other health telemetry for those requiring it on ill-heath or age grounds.

Many people will not want a 'fixed' service at all, which has been driving the promised OR BB lines only product without a bundled voice service.

I've had a live FTTP service since January and just like when I went from dial-up to ADSL, I don't think I'd want to go back.

I would hope that over time, the monthly service charge will decrease to a point to that of ADSL as the customer wouldn't have a choice over how their broadband and phone service was delivered as not everyone will want to use mobile networks for everything and some just won't be able to.

Should also discourage copper cable theft which I'd imagine costs BT and it's insurers a fair bit due to copper prices which is likely to have been a factor in this decision.

It appears as though Virgin are sldo going down the full fibre route where they are extending their network under Project Lightning as opposed to using cable, probably for the same reason.

Then there's CityFibre.

I've said before I'd like to see OR separated from BT and to be owned equally by all the Communications Providers that use it's services (similar to LINX) but this is unlikely and I don't think anyone would want to take on the copper loop network.

There is indeed the issue about how long the battery back up on an ONT would support a voice service for though in the event of an extended power outage.

What percentage of the population use wired phones vs DECT?

I�m guessing for most people, if the power goes off they lose their phone today.