The forthcoming switch off in 2025 of the analogue telecoms network – PSTN and ISDN – will impact across all sectors, not just security and safety, and affect many different areas of communications.  While there aren’t many CCTV systems still using ISDN for video transmission, PSTN remains widely used both for alarm transmission and, of course, for voice calls.

It is already virtually impossible to source a new analogue line for any purpose and, according to BT, none will be available by 2023.  To make matters  more interesting, the rate of users migrating away from PSTN/ISDN is much slower than had been anticipated meaning there is likely to be something of a mad scramble as the deadline looms, a situation not helped by the COVID 19 lockdown.

Telecom suppliers have been busy encouraging users to switch to SIP trunks as a lower cost and more flexible alternative for their regular telecom requirements.  Takeup for the security sector has been strangely pedestrian.  For control rooms handling incoming audio alarms, for example, lone worker or social care monitoring, SIP trunks offer the perfect combination of lower set up and recurring costs but without additional hardware and support. Further channels can be added, and removed, at any time, without onsite engineering or additional equipment. Number management becomes easy and the capability to point numbers to a different location simplifies disaster recovery.  All that is needed is a reliable network.

Bold migrated the Gemini audio receiving module to SIP trunks some time ago.  Communicating directly into the platform without the need for a dedicated server, line cards and PSTN connections reduces costs and significantly speeds up the deployment of services like lone worker monitoring and IP alarm signalling

If you would like more details of how SIP trunks can work for you in the Gemini platform, please call us on 01392 364777 or Contact Us

Click Openreach Digital Network Announcement for details of their ‘Call Waiting List’ initiative

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