Have you heard? New legislation approved with the FCC has released the traditional telephony carriers from maintaining the copper POTS lines, or the outdated Public Switched Telephony Networks (PSTN) that have been the backbone of American communications since 1877. Starting next year, if a copper wire breaks, telephony providers no longer have to fix the wire, and instead will encourage users to migrate to digital communications offerings such as Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VoIP to replace the outdated PSTN.
VoIP, which has been in use since 1970, has only recently become popular. VoIP utilizes the Local Area Network (or LAN) to send small digital packets over the internet to the recipient. As the technology has grown more reliable and accessible, it has started to become the de-facto telephony solution of businesses and residents alike. What was once merely a cost -saving effort has become the forefront of advanced communications technology. Here’s why VoIP should replace outdated PSTN connections:
But Why? VoIP: Advantages
While lower costs are still a primary advantage of VoIP technology, this is no longer the main reason why businesses and residents alike have moved from the traditional PSTN. There are many more significant advantages, including:
Scalability – Your business is not static. It is cyclical. Your communications system shouldn’t be a stab in the dark about how many people will be needed on your phone system, or complicated to add new users. Legacy solutions have a limit as to how many phones can be connected – but VoIP does not. The possibilities are limitless when it comes to VoIP.
Agility – The key to gaining a competitive edge is moving faster than your competition. VoIP solutions can manage changes in volume and users within minutes and removes any ceiling that might affect your communications solution as you grow.
Mobility – Users no longer are tied to a physical desk. More employees are requesting flexible work arrangements, or unexpected life events can take your employees out of the office. But this doesn’t need to mean loss of productivity. VoIP enables mobile solutions that keep your users connected, wherever they roam.
Advanced Features – Because the solution is internet-based, you will always have the most advanced features in the industry. Since no hardware is needed to run the new features, and all updates are delivered and deployed via the same internet connection your system is attached to, the only thing you need to do to use the update is pick up your phone.
Flexibility – VoIP works with a variety of devices and locations. An employee finds themselves out of the office but didn’t set their desk phone to ring their cell phone? No problem, they can fire up a soft-phone on their laptop. Mobile applications for cell phones mean users can connect with their business identity, even from their mobile devices. The possibilities are endless.
Reduced Complexity – In the old days, in order to install a PSTN PBX in an office building it required significant investments, not only in equipment but in the hiring of a specific PBX specialist to set up, lay any necessary cabling, hook it up to the PBX and make any changes to the systems (such as adds, moves, and changes.) Updates meant again paying for the time of the PBX professional as well as additional hardware. A new employee’s ability to communicate was dependent on the schedule of the technician to be able to add the user. VoIP removes all of these complexities. With the solution being software-driven, instead of specialized hardware, and accessed with a simple graphical user interface (GUI), day to day management of the solution can be handled by administrative personnel, reserving your IT staff for the more complex needs of your business.
Security – For any internet technology, one of the main objections has always been around security. There is a perceived risk with sending data packets over a wired connection, and VoIP endpoints have been known to be a potential risk for cyber attacks. However, with effective internal security, VoIP connections are actually more secure. Providers have strict guidelines to follow when it comes to the security of your data, and they take this task seriously.
Quality – VoIP is not new, despite the hype. VoIP has been around in some form since the 1970s and has only gained popularity recently as a competitor to the PSTN. Because of its almost 50-year history, VoIP has been tested, and the issues of those early days have been resolved. VoIP is a tried and true technology. Innovations in audio compression have enhanced the sound quality, and as long as there is a stable, high bandwidth, robust internet connection, VoIP provides superior sound by far.
Business Continuity – Previously, VoIP connections have relied on somewhat unreliable internet connections. Now, providers have created stronger connections, and outages are rare. Even so, if the connection does go down, with the advancement of cellular technologies, such as 4 and 5G connections, VoIP technologies can change the provider from the internet to the cell towers and keep your business communicating regardless of exterior challenges.
VoIP: The DeFacto Choice to Replace the PSTN
The times are changing, and businesses find themselves at the precipice of explosive change. VoIP will replace the outdated PSTN. Much like the invention of the telephone, which propelled businesses forward, VoIP, and the many benefits it can provide to your business can open up even more doors. Learn more about how VoIP, as the natural replacement to the outdated PSTN, can help your business find even more success.
