Make calls and save money after 2025

Grant Thain, Vendor Manager and Connectivity Expert at Chess, advises how you can retain your phone line after 2025. He looks into MPF, a connectivity and voice solution, which allows you to:

• Choose when to move to full fibre >
• Reduce complexity when moving your phone line >
• Save on routers and handsets >

When it comes to looking at products to address the upcoming closure of the PSTN, there has been very little conversation about MPF. Here are a few things to consider, when you are thinking about your data and voice planning.

Choose when to move

FTTP (Chess Ultrafast Fibre) is the long-term future of data in the UK. FTTP has greater speed options, it is more reliable and is designed to meet the ever-increasing data requirements of modern businesses. You need a more stable and faster connection to enable remote working, video conferencing and running data-heavy applications.

Openreach continue to roll out FTTP across the country, however it is acknowledged that there will not be 100% coverage by the time the PSTN closes in 2025. Therefore, customers are expected to migrate to another All-IP product, typically SOGEA (which doesn't include a phone line).

The PSTN closure does not impact MPF, so outside of Priority Exchange areas (where FTTP is the only available new product), MPF is a viable alternative to SOGEA. MPF does have an end date, which we think is going to be around 2030, but it extends out the point at which you must make the move to All-IP. This gives more time for the FTTP roll-out to reach your location.

Reduce complexity when moving your phone line

One of the challenges of migrating to an All-IP solution is how do you move the telephone number. This especially runs true when you look at SOGEA as a replacement product. There is a complex set of actions that all need to be coordinated to ensure that your existing number successfully migrates across to your new VoIP supplier at the same time as your data connection migrates to SOGEA.

MPF is a call native solution, in the same way as your current Single Analogue line. The migration process for MPF is very mature and, with the voice and data supplier being the same, it is significantly simpler and reduces the risk of losing your telephone number/service.

Save on routers and handsets

One of the costs associated with moving to an All-IP solution is the need to replace existing routers and handsets. All IP solutions will typically require either new IP handsets to be plugged into your router, or a new router with a port to plug in your existing handset. Additionally, All-IP solutions don't work with extension sockets, so you may also need to invest in wireless handsets.

A significant benefit of moving your connection to MPF is that it works in a similar way to a Single Analogue line. It uses the same type of copper line master socket and therefore can be used with your existing telephone handset and any internal extension sockets. This will reduce the costs associated with replacing handsets or working out how to replace internal extensions.

As MPF uses the same sort of technology as ADSL/FTTC (superfast broadband), you can usually use your existing router, although you may want to look at upgrading your router to a more modern model for security reasons.

Unsure of where to start with your PSTN 2025 strategy? Chess has a full range of PSTN switch off compliant services, and our consultative approach can guide you through determining the solution, which is best for you. Contact one of our experts for advice today.