The BIG switch off!

The next three years will see some major and unprecedented changes to the UK telephone communication systems, and for some time we have been advising customers that they should be taking steps to avoid any disruption to their own company telephone systems, as well as the lifts that they look after and maintain.

The mobile network companies have announced that they are planning to switch off the 2G and 3G networks within thge next few years, and furthermore, BT have announced that they are planning to switch off the PSTN (copper landlines) telephone network at the same time. This major change will have a large impact on many businesses but from the perspective of lift autodialler units, the effect could be disastrous if action is not taken soon.

Currently the dates for the planned network switch off are as follows:

3G network to be switched off – commencing on 1^st January 2023

2G network to be switched off – commencing on 1^st January 2026

PSTN lines to be switched off – during 2025 

The 3G mobile network has now largely been replaced by the 4G network, and hence why it is the first to be switched off. At Syntium we have never sold 3G specific products or SIM cards and therefore the impact at the time of switch off is minimal.

The 2G mobile network and PSTN switch off will have a large impact and will need both consideration and planning by our customers, and we are here to help and assist our customers up to and beyond the time of switch off.

Any autodialler units currently functioning with a 2G SIM card will need to be checked/upgraded/replaced with a 4G product and SIM.

Any autodialler units currently using a copper based PSTN landline also need to be upgraded/replaced to use another means of communication. Our recommendation is for these units to use either a 4G mobile network connection or a SIP connection (VoIP), or both – see below.

For customers purchasing autodialler equipment that will use the mobile network, it is our recommendation to all customers to purchase equipment that uses the 4G mobile network. Our recommended autodialler product is the Synplicity 4G/4GX, and if converting landline autodialler units to use the mobile network, our recommended product is the Syntium 4G.

For customers wanting to make use of an available SIP/VoIP connection, our recommended product is the Syntium IP 4G which has a 4G mobile network backup, and if the mobile network backup is not required our ATA product will be fine.