Event Roundup: Helping businesses prepare for the Digital Phone Switchover
On Tuesday 16 May, techUK held a briefing session aimed at helping businesses prepare for the Digital Phone Switchover, where we heard from Government, Ofcom, Communications Providers and network operators.
The briefing was opened by Ofcom and DSIT, setting out the background and rationale to the retirement of the Public Switched Telephone Network and the expectations on Communications Providers as they continue over the next few years undertaking the move to digital phone lines, as well as the roles of Government and the telecoms regulator during the switchover. Farrpoint Consultancy gave examples of different use cases and impact of the change discovered through the work they’ve been carrying out in this area.
VMO2, BT Business and Gamma talked through their approaches to migrating customers, and called on businesses to speak with their Communication Providers as they make preparations to move.
Openreach talked through what they’d learnt from the trials recently carried out in both Salisbury and Mildenhall and we heard from Gamma Germany who gave the view from a country having recently successfully completed the switchover – challenges seen there included compatibility of devices (not always being ready out of the box), the time commitment required, training and education and the cost. The key takeaway for businesses was to act early as delays risk leaving limited options. The final speaker for the panel talked through the learnings of Sheffield Teaching Hospital and gave advice on how they were managing the switch and savings that they’d been able to realise.
The event rounded up with views from NICC, Which?, DSIT, Magrathea Telecoms focussing on communications and what businesses might need to help support them.
More information on the switchover is available on the Government website here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-from-analogue-to-digital-landlines
- BT: Moving to Digital Voice
- IP technology is changing the UK’s phone networks - BT Business
- VMO2: Virgin phone switchover
Please click here, to view the recording.
And the presentations given are available here
Digital Phone Switchover - Slide deck
Background and Digital Phone Switch overview
- Steve Smith, Principal Consultant, Farrpoint - You can download the slide here.
Businesses what to expect
- David Christie, Senior Regulatory Specialist, VMO2 - You can download the slide here.
- Steve Blackshaw, IP Migrations Director, BT Enterprise - You can download the slide here.
- Thomas Collingwood Smith, Digital Transformation Specialist, Gamma - You can download the slide here.
Sharing experiences
- Juliette Scott, Senior Manager, All IP, Openreach - You can download the slide here.
- Thomas Schroder, Commercial Director, Gamma Germany - You can download the slide here.
- Tom Boyle, Head of Telecoms, NHS Trust Sheffield Teaching Hospital - You can download the slide here.