What do I need to know? - The technology we currently use to make landline phone calls is due to be upgraded over the next few years, and that means many businesses will need to make a change to their telephone services.
Landline phone calls have traditionally been delivered over the old telephone network – this is known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
BT has taken the decision to retire the PSTN by December 2025, and to make sure our telephone services continue in the future, all landline calls will be delivered using a digital technology called Voice over Broadband (VoB) or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which uses a broadband connection.
RGC have already started migrating customers to VoIP, principally those who have upgraded their phone and broadband packages, or who have moved offices. We will continue to contact all our existing customers to let them know when the process to migrate from their old landline systems to our new telephone service will be available.
What will change?
Once a phone service is moved from the PSTN to Voice over Broadband or Voice over Internet Protocol, the system will generally work in the same way as it always has but with a lot more features e.g. mobility (soft phones) and MS Teams solutions etc. You will also have the option to rent the services over a monthly period as opposed to buying the system outright. This means you will have a system which can flex up and down easily whilst only requiring you to pay for the services you are using at the time. It's important you talk to your provider about how the service will work for you and if you're not happy please call us and we will be happy to talk to you in plain English.
There may be other devices connected to your phone lines, such as broadband and fire or burglar alarm systems. RGC can check if these systems need to be upgraded, reconfigured, or replaced to continue working.
If you rely on your landline - for example, you don't have access to a mobile phone, or the mobile phone signal is poor – RGC will make sure you are able to contact the emergency services during a power cut. This could be in the form of battery back-up or Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) so your system will continue to work. Alternatively, if you have a smartphone, you can download a dedicated soft phone app that is a replica of the phone on your desk which will allow you to stay connected with all features at your fingertips.
What do I need to do?
If you are not an RGC customer but you would like to know the status of your system, you should contact us immediately. We will be able to tell you when your telephone service is changing and what is available for you in your area. You can then decide what your future telephone service should look like.
How can I find out more?
If you have any queries or concerns about the migration to Voice Over Broadband or Voice Over Internet Protocol technology, contact RGC.
For more information:
Call RGC today on 0330 00 22 222 or fill out our Contact Form.
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