Feature: Wireless
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The analogue telephony switch-off brings infrastructure challenges, particularly for businesses and buildings reliant on this legacy network for the operability of devices like door entry systems [Image: Bernard Hermant for Unsplash]
he public switched telephone network (PSTN), or the era of analogue telephony in the UK is fi nally coming to an end aſt er providing voice communications for over 100 years, with the fi nal switch-off date currently set for December 2025. France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Singapore
and Sweden are already there, with Estonia and T e Netherlands completing the switch soon. For many the deadline can’t come soon enough, since the
copper-based network is simply unable to support the digitised technologies we’ve come to depend on. Universal Internet accessibility, together with global smartphone penetration exceeding 80%, has transformed the way people communicate, with landlines being just one of many diff erent methods. Hence, it would be obvious to think that moving from analogue to a digital alternative is a straightforward process, as simple as plugging an existing phone into a new socket or router. As it happens, the practicalities of the switchover show that
PSTN is the underpinning enabler to a lot more than just fi xed-line telephony. Yet, according to Internet service provider Zen Internet, nearly a quarter of UK businesses are unaware of the PSTN impact and are simply not ready for the big switch-off . T e switch-off brings with it a whole host of infrastructure
challenges, particularly for businesses and buildings reliant on this legacy network for the operability of devices and applications powering alarm lines, elevator lines, ATMs, POS, door entry systems, telemetry systems (fl ood defence, traffi c lights), fax machines, pagers and telecare, to name just a few. Aſt er the cut-off point, all these services – and many more besides – will need to be IP compatible to continue working. Suppliers must therefore carry out testing to make sure that their associated products will continue to work on an all-IP network.
The PSTN switch-off – how ready are you?
By Colin Abrey, VP Strategic Accounts, Nextivity
16 July/August 2023
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
The best way forward Although digital telephony is clearly the way forward, it does bring with it several infrastructure challenges. It also demonstrates the need for enterprises to implement a comprehensive wireless strategy to support current and future communications. Many organisations, smaller ones in particular, are still reliant on legacy communications networks for the operability of low-power technologies behind their setups. For many services, Wi-Fi is a logical alternative as it is the
backbone to digital transformation – and especially since all services including voice will be digital and require Internet connectivity. But, no matter how sophisticated, WiFi-only networks will not resolve the switchover challenges in their entirety, and other channels including public and private cellular networks and low-power sensor networks must also be carefully considered, which also includes security issues. Many Wi-Fi setups, like PSTN, are also copper based, which
causes speed and performance issues because of RF leakage. T is is being addressed with the rollout of gigabit broadband, but the process is still ongoing in many countries, with urban areas being prioritised.
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