With VoIP and smart phones comprising over 90% of all telephone service, the need for landline or copper lines from the phone companies has all but disappeared. In 2017, the FCC gave approval for phone companies to begin phasing out their Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS).  

Are copper lines important? Yes! Copper lines support several essential functions of your business:  

• Elevators  
• Fax machines 
• Life safety devices and alarms  
• POS solutions  

What other options are available to you?  

Replacement options are available. 3G/4G/LTE can emulate POTS and has the added benefit of being wireless which can provide a level of diversity to wired line technology. POTS over fiber is another option where a digital signal is converted to an analog signal using a media converter to “speak” to all your analog devices. 

Businesses that wait can expect to see rate hikes of up to 200% over the next year while also risking having vital services cancelled. 

The conversion from analog to digital can be confusing and time consuming. However, exploring the costs and benefits of such an important transition will set your company up for success. Additionally, transitioning will ensure efficient communications and employee safety. 

To learn more about how to convert from copper lines to fiber, or for an experienced audit to determine which strategy best fits your company’s needs, contact Access Tech. We have assisted customers in communication upgrades for over 25 years. Using our process of Discover, Design, Deploy and Defend our experience turns potentially complex situations into the best solutions. 

For further reading, here are three ways to manage the change from analog to digital.