For the past few decades, we have witnessed tremendous growth and advancements in telecommunication. As the world evolves and newer technologies emerge, older ones slowly get phased out. Two such technologies on the brink of shutdown are the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the traditional circuit-switched telephone network system, and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), which carries voice and data services over the PSTN. This report investigates the ongoing PSTN/ISDN shutdowns worldwide, using examples from Germany and Estonia. Furthermore, we examine the case of the United Kingdom, which announced its plan to phase out its analog network by 2025. We discuss its preparedness, the potential challenges it may encounter, and provide recommendations to ensure a seamless transition to the new technology. This report will also evaluate the potential impact on services like elevators and alarms on individuals and business.
Analogue Shutdown:
The analogue shutdown, also known as the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) shutdown, is the process of phasing out the traditional lines in favor of newer communication technologies, such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and all-IP networks. This includes discontinuing landline phones, alarm systems on analog lines, elevator alarm systems, POS systems, etc. From Figure 1, we can see a list of countries with top GDP and Infrastructure rankings. From the table, many countries still have their Analog line available, but by 2025, most of these countries will have phased out their analog lines. Countries like Norway, Germany, and the USA have already phased out their analog line and successfully transitioned to newer communication technologies. The experiences of these countries provide valuable insights into the benefits and challenges associated with the analog shutdown.
The shutdown of analogue lines can significantly impact businesses and people. For example, individuals and businesses still reliant on landline phones will encounter disruptions in their ability to make and receive phone calls. Furthermore, alarms and security systems reliant on analog lines will stop working, which can be dangerous for individuals and businesses, potentially compromising their safety and security. However, despite the shutdown’s effects, two countries, Germany and Estonia, have already phased out their analog lines and successfully transitioned to newer communication technologies. But the question of how they did it and its effects will be analyzed.
| Country | ISDN Availability | PSTN Availability |
|---|---|---|
| China | Available | Available |
| Singapore | Available | Available |
| South Korea | Available | Available |
| Hong Kong | Available | Available |
| Denmark | Available | Available |
| United States | Not Available | Not Available |
| Norway | Not Available | Not Available |
| Japan | Available | Available |
| Germany | Not Available | Not Available |
| India | Available | Available |
| United Kingdom | Available | Available |
| France | Available | Available |
| Italy | Available | Available |
| Canada | Available | Available |
Germany Case:
How did they do it?
In Germany, Deutsche Telekom (DT) started to kick off the country’s PSTN line in 2014. DT first ceased selling POTS (plain old telephone service) orI SDN products and replaced them with VoIP products, which had previously been bundled with all data access upgrades. After that, it addressed all POTS/ISDN customers through active marketing, followed by a notice that it would apply forced migration by terminating all contracts running out of term.
BNetzA, the federal network agency of Germany, moderated the process by initiating round tables involving private network equipment suppliers and specialist PSTN/ISDN-based applications such as remote supervision and control, emergency call systems for elevators, point of sales terminals, the solutions such as test beds to find alternative technical solutions. As a result, while the competitors promised to operate their PSTN/ISDN network up to 2022, most customers of DT finally accepted the need to update their equipment.
Furthermore, Deutsche Telekom, during the migration, DT also decided to implement PSTN/ISDN MSANs (multi-service access node) to facilitate a smoother migration, thus offering PSTN/ISDN copper access at least for a minority of lines.
Effects of the turnoff?
When PSTN was entirely shut off in Germany, there were notable car crashes, especially within the pharmaceutical supply sector and customers migrating to their fax machines. DT encountered persistent problems with customers’ fax machines during their IP migration. Neither the company nor the regulator clearly understood how many customers were affected. Also, security devices provided by a special service provider, such as security or fire alarm monitoring, proved troublesome. Essentially, Germany forgot or turned their eye to the fact that alarms would be affected by the turnoff. Furthermore, the impact of the PSTN shutdown in Germany revealed some unexpected challenges and disruptions, particularly with car crashes, fax machines, and security devices. Essentially, the lack of communication and information exchange that relied on analog lines shouldn’t have been overlooked and is something the United Kingdom can also learn from.
What did they do right?
When it was first announced that they would shut down the countries PSTN, DT worked closely with their national telecoms regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), which is broadly comparable to the UK’s Ofcom. However, BNetzA has a much broader regulatory remit. As a result, the BNetzA and DT engaged in regular quarterly meetings with other stakeholders. This overall played a crucial role in ensuring a smooth process during the announcement and execution of the PSTN shutdown.
Estonia Case:
How did they do it?
Estonia managed to shut down PSTN networks from 2015-2017. Their approach of making the migration as convenient as possible and avoiding site visits with solutions that enabled site simulation was highly successful. Estonia laid out three critical solutions with Telia to shut down PSTN.
To make it convenient for the customers who still rely on PSTN lines, firstly, they provided installation of a “plug and play ready” broadband router with a POTS port. The end customer could install this new router and plug their existing equipment into the POTS port. This allowed the customers to continue to use their existing POTS lines for the time being until they switched.
Secondly, they installed a gateway solution in the exchange that enabled a testing environment that mimics the behavior and functionality of the live exchange system. This simulation allows market participants, software developers, or testing teams to interact with the exchange without affecting the production environment. This essentially avoided Telia technicians having to schedule time-consuming and intruding house visits.
Lastly, the hardest part of the shutdown was for existing business customers using ISDN connections and equipment. To tackle this issue, they were required to form a dedicated approach for each site, and specific solutions were found to support the migration to IP.
Why did they do it?
Similar to Germany, the main driver for the migration to IP was to achieve reduced operating expenses due to a simplified and more robust network design with modern IP switches, which are easier to manage and for which expertise is more readily available. Furthermore, Telia also stated that the main driver of diminishing the PSTN lines was due to diminishing expertise in the level of knowledge, skills, or experience within Telia’s staff or technical teams regarding the maintenance and operation of the PSTN network. Also, the diminishing expertise resulted in increasing fault rates, leading to a decline in satisfaction with the network service.
What did they do right?
The three critical solutions mentioned previously were the driving force behind the success of their PSTN shutdown. These solutions allowed the country to progress swiftly with its shutdown process avoiding complications. In conclusion, Estonia managed to shut down its PSTN network in just two years which is a remarkable achievement, and the approach proved very successful.
To conclude, the analog shutdown has significant implications that must be advised and understood beforehand for a smooth shutdown process. As countries start to shut down their analog lines, many valuable lessons can be learned from Germany and Estonia. The two countries are great examples where countries can learn from and highlight the importance of proactive planning, collaboration with regulators and stakeholders, and innovative solutions to ensure a smooth transition and minimize disruptions. By adopting and learning from other countries, the shutdown process can be smooth and effective to pave the way for a future of advanced communication technologies.
United Kingdom Situation:
In November 2017, the United Kingdom announced that it would entirely phase out its analog network by 2025. This will mean individuals and businesses must transition entirely to digital platforms for their communication needs. The reason why the UK is phasing out its analog lines is that, just like other countries, over the years, there has been a drastic change in technology and the way people communicate. As a result, analog technology has become outdated and can no longer keep up with digital advancement and the growing demands for high-speed, high-quality connectivity.
To give credit to the UK, compared to other countries, the UK has a vast majority of reports and articles suggesting what steps should be taken to facilitate a smooth and efficient transition from analog to digital networks. For example, the UK government website advises on what consumers can do to prepare and what happens during a power cut. Also, it advises vulnerable customers who rely heavily on analog lines for medical alarms. These suggestions help individuals and businesses understand what needs to be done for a smooth transition. Furthermore, like Germany, the UK government is “working together with the telecoms industry to ensure all sectors of the economy are protected and prepared. This includes regularly engaging with telecoms providers, tracking preparedness across all affected sectors, and working closely with Ofcom” (Gov. UK, 2023).
In hindsight, the UK seems prepared for its analog shutdown, but there are many areas the UK lacks when it comes to providing information. For example, many legacy systems, such as alarm systems, fax machines, and older medical devices, still rely on analog phone lines. The UK government suggests that it is the responsibility of your provider to ensure these systems can continue functioning on the digital network. However, there is a lack of communication about the potential alternatives, and there is no consideration for users less familiar with digital technology. This poses the risk of leaving individuals and businesses uncertain, not knowing how to transition their legacy systems to the new digital platform. Furthermore, there are concerns over the compatibility of which devices will require more extensive modifications and the costs of upgrading to digital lines.
The UK government can learn lessons from Estonia and Singapore to solve these issues. As mentioned earlier, Estonia’s method of providing installation of a “plug and play ready” broadband router with a POTS port where the end customer could install this new router by him/herself and plug its existing equipment will allow customers who are not familiar with the change more time to understand and adapt to the new technology over time. Furthermore, they outlined aspects to consider in Singapore when switching analog networks. The document aimed to ensure a smooth transition from legacy to all-IP networks while maintaining the quality and reliability of communication services in Singapore. They suggest that alarm systems that still require analog technologies to function should stay on until a solution is found. This strategy provides a solid fallback solution for users still heavily reliant on analog systems and devices. The UK government can learn from these two countries in their efforts to facilitate a seamless transition from analog to digital systems.
Elevators and Alarms:
The impending analog shutdown will have a significant impact on elevators and alarms. Elevators are a crucial part of our everyday lives that provide safe and efficient transportation mechanisms, while alarms provide security and safety for individuals and businesses. However, with the switch to IP, it puts elevators and alarms using analog lines at risk. With the shutdown fast approaching, the question arises as to how this issue can be effectively resolved.
Elevators:
PSTN switch-off will affect emergency alarms in lifts, panic alarms, burglar alarms, information displays, traffic lights, some door and gate entry systems, CCTV systems, and point-of-sale payment terminals. If not upgraded to digital connectivity within the next few years, they will stop working when PSTN lines go out of service. For example, many elevators use an analog dial tone and dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals to operate. Without a PSTN line, elevators not converted to VOIP may fail to dial the emergency services. In addition, the elevators that draw power from the telephone line will also not work. If the lift is deemed non-functional during a 3-day line test under regulations, it will be declared non-compliant and switched off.
While there are several solutions for this issue, the question is, is there enough time to switch all these elevators? In the UK, for example, as of 2023, there are approximately 393,670 installed units of elevators. If, theoretically, all these elevators used analog lines for their emergency alarms, it would mean that in two years, the UK would need to change approximately 539 units per day. This enormous number is impossible to achieve in just two years. So, the question of, is the shutdown happening too early? Arises.
Alarms:
PSTN switch-off will also affect alarm systems that rely on traditional telephone lines for communication. Once the analog lines are shut down, these devices will no longer be able to conduct their intended tasks – rendering them useless and leaving customers at risk. In fact, any type of alarm system intruder, lift, fire, or telecare, for example, will be affected, and this will also extend to CCTV systems that use ISDN services.
If the customer or business is unprepared for the shutdown, it can pose many risks. For example, specific alarm systems, such as medical alerts, may directly connect users to emergency services through PSTN lines. The shutdown of these lines without suitable alternatives can limit or delay access to emergency assistance when needed. If not prepared, it can lead to many catastrophes.
How can this issue be solved?
While Ofcom and BT state on their websites, “If you have a device like this, it might need to be replaced or reconfigured to continue working once you move to a VoIP service. When you migrate to a VoIP service, your provider should tell you what to do if you have one of these devices. This will include informing your alarm provider so they can make the necessary changes or tell you if your alarm will work with your new VoIP service”. While they encourage you to change over, they don’t provide a concrete solution and expect the consumer to solve the issue themselves. This poses an issue for elderly people, for example, who may not know the PSTN shutdown is happening and not know what to do when switching over to newer technology.
In the UK, as of 2019, 3 million security alarm systems still use PSTN lines. That will mean the UK will need to replace 1,370 alarm systems daily in six years. Of course, this is a theoretical example, and we don’t know the current number, but replacing 1,370 alarms every day for six years is a far-fetched goal.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the analog shutdown poses significant challenges for individuals, businesses, and countries. However, several countries, such as Germany and Estonia, have experienced the shutdown process, providing valuable insights and recommendations for other nations for a smooth transition.
For individuals and businesses, it is crucial to be proactive and informed about the impending shutdowns. This includes upgrading relevant legacy systems and seeking guidance from relevant providers to ensure a smooth transition to newer technologies. Furthermore, government bodies and providers must ensure clear communication and support for individuals and businesses to ensure a smooth process.
On a national level, countries must ensure clear and transparent communications about the shutdown timelines, implications, and available alternatives. In addition, before phasing out their networks, countries should make sure there is a proactive plan and considerations for vulnerable groups and legacy systems. Also, understanding and learning best practices from other countries can help minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition.
As countries evolve their network, by following these recommendations, individuals, businesses, and the country can embrace the benefits of advanced communication technologies while mitigating the potential risks and challenges associated with the analog shutdown.
