Copper Sunset: Carriers to Retire POTS

For years, the telecom industry has been encouraging businesses to proactively replace plain old telephone service (POTS) lines. Now, POTS lines are officially being decommissioned - meaning organizations must act now or risk losing service.

Originally built for the era of rotary dials and busy signals, POTS has been the workhorse of voice communication for over a century. Now times have changed. Analog maintenance costs are currently through the roof. Many providers have stopped fixing POTS lines altogether, resulting in performance issues and service gaps.

Many companies still rely on POTS lines to support critical systems including fire and burglar alarms, elevator emergency phones, fax machines, point-of-sale terminals, and more. Estimates for how many POTS lines are still out there will vary based on who you ask, but the total amount is likely somewhere between 15 million to 50 million. When the copper goes, so does the functionality of those systems—unless you have a replacement plan. This means alarms may stop working, emergency elevator lines could go silent, and critical business operations may come to a halt.

Smarter IT has a portfolio of partners to provide a number of choices for POTS replacement, each with a different approach. POTS replacement isn't as simple as swapping out a line. Many systems were built specifically for analog service. Sourcing compliant, reliable, and cost effective alternatives requires careful planning and expertise. We are committed to assisting you with the best POTS replacement strategy for your organization. Reach out today to schedule a call with one of our advisors.