Preparing for the UK ISDN/PSTN switch-off

The Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switch-off is a looming change affecting telecom professionals and IT leaders across Europe. Countries like Estonia, The Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and Sweden are switching off their ISDN networks, with the UK planning to retire its ISDN circuits by 2025. This transition will impact approximately three million organizations in the UK alone. Businesses need to adopt Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to communicate effectively during this change. The shift from copper wires to the cloud is necessary due to the limitations of traditional networks and the advantages of IP-based phone systems, such as scalability and cost-effectiveness. To prepare for BT's ISDN switch-off, businesses should start migrating to IP-based communications now, evaluate network providers, and modernize their infrastructure.