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Is it time you moved your business telecoms to the cloud?

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You might often hear reports about ISDN technology being phased out in the business telecoms market and more modern networks receiving fresh software updates and features. With news like this swirling around your head, you could understandably be nervous.

You may particularly be wondering whether now is the time to transfer your firm’s telecoms network to the cloud. Here are examples of signs that you should consider proceeding in this way.

BT says: out with the old, in with the new

If your company currently routinely uses an ISDN or PSTN circuit, BT has sent out a clear message that you are relying on what is increasingly a legacy network. As recently reported by Elite Business Magazine, BT has announced that it intends to stop selling ISDN or PSTN circuits by 2020.

ISDN – Integrated Services Digital Network – and PSTN, which stands for Public Switched Telephone Technology, are both examples of traditional phone lines on which most of us rely for phone communication. However, BT is also planning to switch off these networks by 2025 and so force businesses into moving to VoIP telephone systems, which are cloud-based.

Look at your business. Is it ready to move to VoIP?

If you do seriously consider transitioning your business to the cloud, you will be in good company. Bytestart.co.uk reports many businesses mulling over a cloud transition for all of their corporate applications. However, you might want to think carefully before putting a cloud move into action.

There remain many years before the cut-off year of 2025 – and, in that time, the UK will need to see fibre completely rolled out to bolster national connectivity. Furthermore, if your firm’s Internet connection is spotty, it might be best to delay a cloud transition for now.

This is because using a VoIP system would require you to make and receive business calls online. Hiccups in your Internet connectivity’s speed could see business-critical calls dropping. This would hardly be convenient for your corporate image or productivity.

Reasons to consider going full steam ahead with VoIP

You should also look closely at your current office phone system to see if it supports VoIP. If you bought that system recently, it very plausibly could include this support. If it does, contract terms might hint that, by switching to the cloud early, your business could save money.

If your company’s Internet connection would not be conducive to effective use of a VoIP system just yet, rest assured that this could soon change. The Government has revealed its plan that, by 2020, everyone in the country will have access to broadband Internet of at least 10Mbps.

Even this target could be considered less than ambitious, given that the EU Digital Agenda goals include a plan to have broadband of 30Mbps or more widely implemented by that date. Therefore, the omens look good for many UK firms to set up a VoIP phone service like that available from the telecoms company Planet Numbers, which can be reached by phone on 0333 370 7333.

Elliot Preece