In the new world of work, employees increasingly want, need, and expect to be able to work flexibly. As a result, businesses across the UK are working to improve their connectivity – providing their workers with the freedom to work how they want, where they want. To do this, many are moving to the UK’s digital phone network sooner rather than later.

The traditional, copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is on its way out and is now being replaced with a digital phone network. This change is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to boost their flexible working capabilities, as the digital phone network – a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service that runs over the top of any internet connection, including fibre and 4G or 5G – offers greater connectivity for businesses, teams, and customers alike.

The digital phone network allows you to make and receive calls over the internet instead of the traditional, copper-based PSTN. However, call quality won’t suffer. In fact, it’ll be improved. Thanks to the digital network’s HD audio, tinny voices and echoey acoustics will be things of the past.

Your service will be more reliable too. Being hosted in the cloud, your service is no longer tied to a single location. On the contrary, it’ll be hosted in multiple geo-redundant sites that provide a minimum of 99.99% platform uptime. Because it’s hosted in the cloud, any issues at your site can be avoided by remotely diverting calls to other PCs or mobiles on your network, so you’ll never be caught short.

On top of this, digital phone lines require far less maintenance than the ageing PSTN, so your team can work safely, knowing your communication platforms won’t fail when collaborating.

IP solutions aren’t just for voice calls. On the digital phone network, linked apps mean you can video call and chat via your business phone number too. This means everyone will have the flexibility to choose the platform that suits them best – providing your customers with more options and enhancing collaboration between colleagues.

Unlike the traditional copper-based phone network, the digital phone network means your business phone number won’t be tied down to a location anymore. Instead, your team can make and take calls from your business phone number, wherever they are. 

What’s more, this number will be able to make and receive multiple calls simultaneously, and you can turn any number of mobiles or PCs into “softphones” – i.e., use them as if they’re desk phones.

This will revolutionise the work of customer contact teams. For example, one of your sales associates might be on the move, but they can make and take customer calls via their laptop from the business phone number. The same will apply to another sales associate working from home.

Customers and team members alike will benefit from this more seamless experience.

While PSTN has served the UK well for over a century, the digital phone network is future-proof. Faster, more reliable, and more connected, it’s what businesses need to be flexible today and agile in the coming years. And with regular updates, you’ll always have the latest features. Every week, we help thousands of businesses switch over. The sooner you join them, the sooner you and your team can reap the benefits.