The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), utilizing Time Division Multiplexing, is the platform of choice for small businesses and their alarm lines and fax machines. What happens when the PSTN goes away? 

You can tell what technologies are going to stick around and which ones are going by the wayside by what new equipment and technology is being developed. With burglar and fire alarms, wireless is taking over. Alarm companies like it because a wireless connection can’t be cut and they’re able to earn a portion of the monthly cost to deliver the signal.

Guess what is not happening. You don’t see any wireless faxing technology being developed. The only developments related to faxing are eFax, and other fax to email services that don’t require an analog phone line for transmission.

The following are suggestions for businesses to prepare themselves for the time after the PSTN:

Stop Faxing. You know that feeling you get when you’re in a grocery store stuck behind someone who’s paying for his or her groceries with a check? That’s how other, more advanced, businesses feel when you ask them for their fax number. Any document that can be faxed could be scanned and emailed instead.

Secure a backup internet connection. If your business is utilizing cable internet, secure a broadband connection from your local phone company. If you’re purchasing broadband from your local phone company, retain a second connection from your local cable company. If either of those two isn’t available, consider T1. If you’re utilizing VoIP, if  your phone service is down, your internet connection went down. Work with your IT consultant and phone service provider to develop redundant services. Set up properly, a computer network can automatically shift from one internet connection to another, without interruption.

Use wireless for burglar and fire alarms. Wireless is usually less expensive and more secure than hard-wired alternatives.

Reach out to your point of sale service provider to determine what alternatives exist for devices that only work with landlines. Like I wrote earlier, long-term services are already developing devices that can exist in an IP environment.

Small businesses should consider hosted VoIP as an alternative to traditional phone equipment. With hosted Voice over IP, a company’s phone system resides in the cloud. Phone calls are delivered over the internet. Not all hosted VoIP is equal, however. Avoid “bring your own bandwidth” providers because they can’t deliver Quality of Service, the VoIP voice quality standard.

Preparing for the end of the PSTN is the perfect time to engage with CarrierBid telecom consulting. Our professionals have years of experience dealing with every sort of telecom service and technology. For a free consultation, contact CarrierBid today or complete the web form on the right side of this page.

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