In today’s always-on world, we expect instant access, fast connectivity and reliable communications.

That’s why the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), including ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), is being switched off. This has been mandated by the UK Government to meet digital demands and revolutionise the UK’s communications infrastructure. 

The PSTN will be replaced by a fully digital network that uses Internet Protocol (IP) across a fibre-based service and will be the bedrock for operational efficiency within organisations, ensuring reliable and consistent connectivity between teams.

The move to IP is a brilliant opportunity for organisations to embrace the digital future of work. Our recent research showed that leaders understand the benefits of this, including greater flexibility, less applications, and more simplified communications, and are keen to engage. Indeed, 35% of business leaders and 42% of IT managers report digital transformation as one of their top three priorities. 

However, it is troubling that only 6% of organisations have started their migration. Switching communications to the cloud or a digital voice solution is not as simple as clicking a button. The time is now to move to IP – and BT is here to support you, every step of the way.

Our research revealed that as well as holding off on starting the transition, businesses fundamentally disagree over who is responsible for driving the migration forward. 36% of business leaders think they are, compared to 41% of IT respondents who believe it is their responsibility.

A migration means navigating incredibly complex infrastructures, so leadership and IT managers must collaborate to ensure a clear strategy is defined. 

To ensure success, organisations should:

1. Assign clear leadership that incorporates both organisational and technology perspectives and can communicate clearly with all parts of the business. 


2. Identify the specific benefits for your organisation, what you hope to achieve from migration and how this aligns with strategic goals in the short and long term. 


3. Identify potential pitfalls your organisation could face, who will be affected, and mitigating strategies to minimise disruption. 


4. Develop a roadmap for action and communicate it regularly to the wider organisation. 


5. Engage with the available support and guidance with BT - we’re here to help.
    

By embracing the move now and adhering to these steps, organisations will reap the rewards sooner and can start to build a more streamlined, digitally enabled and sustainable operation.

This is all well and good but for organisations who don’t know where to start, an audit of your current estate and technology is needed. This includes site locations, circuit types, associated phone numbers and the fibre availability.   

To fully pin down the technologies using PSTN and ISDN, audits will cover off all technology, from phones to CCTV and alarm services. After an audit, organisations need to figure out the fully digital solutions that can be applied to replace them, from Unified Communications to Contact Centres. 

Clearly, the intricacy of such a move is why you must start your migration now to ensure a smooth transition to fully digital solutions. With professional managed services, BT can help you audit technology and expertly deploy solutions that work best for you. We’ve been working hard to transform a range of customers’ existing infrastructures. Read how we successfully upgraded one of the largest communication systems in education to in our University of Cambridge case study. And how we modernised a contact centre and communication systems in our Screwfix case study.