The PSTN is Not Dead (Yet)

In this installment of our series of articles on the planned demise of the PSTN, we look at who still needs copper connectivity to the telephone company central office. We asked readers about their concerns and what they were worried about. Here are their comments as well as our observations about the consequences—both intended and not.

By Roban Chahal

Roban Chahal is the editor of The Advisor, a researcher, and oversees TMC benchmarking studies.

It Will Soon Be Over

Around the world, many nations have mandated that the PSTN, as a network, will be turned off at some point. New Zealand has chosen the end of 2023, the UK 2025. The world target is 2030.

The copper wires of the PSTN will no longer connect your phone to the telephone company CO. Instead, the connection will be an IP network of some sort, such as the public Internet, likely over fiber optic cable.

All these dates are proposals and could change as the implications are better understood. North America, including Canada, is working towards a non- PSTN future but there is no deadline to actually remove existing PSTN service and the associated copper cable.

Reader Concerns

Last month, Peter wrote about the problem of PSTN fax and other analogue services (read here). We asked our readers about where they currently use services where an individual PSTN phone line is used for network access and what they thought about life without the analogue PSTN.

Elevator Phones: Older emergency phones in elevators were powered from the central office over the PSTN. Without local electrical power, newer VoIP phones will not work.

Fire and Security Alarms: Fire and Security Alarms: Older systems use PSTN power and special signaling that simply does not work over VoIP.

Fax: Fax lines are everywhere. Pharmacies require faxed prescriptions, medical offices send medical records by fax, builders fax back and forth to City Hall, small businesses accept product orders by fax. Ironically, the high-tech FBI accepts Freedom of Information requests only by fax.

One reader, the President of a SMB telecommunications service provider said “Today 90% of our base of over 3500 clients are still on analog lines.” IP-based voice connections introduce distortion.

Mitigation

Elevator phones: Part of the answer is new phones with backup batteries but without a PSTN line, you also need to keep your internet gateway running (UPS + generator) or else calls will not leave your building. Also, the network provider will need to ensure their broadband network is power-fail safe—which is not currently assured.

Fire and Security Alarms: Since many older systems just will not work in a non

-PSTN future, you will need to discuss upgrading equipment with your alarm service providers. New systems use combinations of IP network connections, sometime with cellular backup.

Fax: The solution here is to migrate your ‘fax service’ onto a more modern system that will work over an IP network. Peter looks at this problem in his article this month.

Your Role

Head-in-the-sand isn’t a recommended approach. The future will arrive some day soon and you need to be ready. Look now at what changes you will need to make—seek help if needed. Then plan those changes over a reasonable time period.

You have been warned.

If you’d like to explore these ideas further or comment on this article, reach me at roban.