You May Need POTS Replacement Solutions
What is POTS?
For over 100 years - from 1876 to 1988 - copper wires and analog technology were the standard method of telephone communications worldwide. In 1988 the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) was introduced, followed by cellular telephones and then VoIP. Today, some of those original analog services (known as Plain Old Telephone Systems, or POTS) are still in use but need to require POTS Replacement Solutions.
Why Replace POTS?
Telecommunications companies tasked with maintaining these legacy systems are spending large amounts of money maintaining systems that require constant repair and replacement when newer systems are much more cost-effective to adapt and maintain.
To address the issue of an aging communications system that’s spread nationwide, the FCC issued an order (10-72A1) in 2019 stating that all POTS lines in the US must be replaced by August 2, 2022 - a date that has already passed. This order was to ensure that telecommunications providers were no longer allocating time, money, and resources to old, outdated systems that were no longer cost-effective and instead encouraged them to upgrade to newer technologies. It also moved to encourage organizations to adopt more advanced communications technologies as they moved to comply with their telecommunications providers' new standards
What Is The POTS Replacement Solution?
Due to its incredible reliability, POTS technology is still in use by many companies, including emergency response organizations. However, with the expense and time required to maintain the systems (not to mention the FCC mandate), replacing the systems is now a process that’s moving full-steam ahead across the country.
When most people are tasked with determining which of their services are POTS systems that need replacement, they think of telephones and fax machines, and while that’s correct, it’s only part of the story.
There are many other services that operate on POTS systems, including:
- police and fire call boxes,
- fire alarms,
- blue light boxes (frequently seen on college campuses, subways, and bridges),
- and even elevators.
As with any upgrade project, there are a few ways to approach a POTS replacement. One is to completely replace all of your existing hardware that utilizes POTS-based lines. However, replacing phones, fax machines, call boxes, and other equipment all at one time can quickly become the more expensive option.
For organizations that aren’t ready to completely replace all of their equipment, there’s an alternative. By obtaining a cloud-based Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service and Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs), your organization can convert POTS systems to digital services in a cost-effective and scalable manner.
In situations that require telephony based in outdoor locations, such as police and fire call boxes and blue light towers, USAT NEMA Enclosures house and protect data communication devices for harsh weather and the elements while also providing solar-power.
What Is VoIP?
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows users to make calls over broadband internet connections, rather than via traditional - or analog - telephone lines. You can use regular landline phones to make VoIP calls using Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs).
USAT can assist your organization in choosing the right VoIP service for your business, or we can be your cellular service provider through our Express M2M™ data plans.
What Are Analog Telephone Adapters?
An Analog Telephone Adapter is a device that connects a landline telephone, fax machine, or similar analog device to a digital telephone or VoIP system.
USAT can assist your organization in selecting the right ATA devices for your unique needs.
POTS Replacement Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
Additionally, in the event that maintenance or upgrades need to be completed, it can be handled remotely in the vast majority of situations - meaning that when time is of the essence, you won’t have to worry about long waits.
For POTS replacement solutions based outdoors, our custom engineered NEMA enclosures can take advantage of solar-power to provide constant battery power and protect critical LTE, 4G, and 5G equipment to ensure connectivity during the harshest conditions.
One of the most important aspects of any telephony service is having reliable, instant connectivity in case of an emergency. So many emergency response and safety services - such as fire alarms, elevators, intrusion alarms, and police call boxes - use analog systems that POTS replacement systems must make business continuity and disaster recovery a priority.
For this reason, POTS replacement solutions include everything needed to keep the systems running efficiently - even through power outages and Internet disruptions. These fail-safe measures include self-contained battery backups and LTE routers for Wi-Fi failover.
Benefits of POTS Replacement
Disaster Recovery
Internet Backup
Built-in Power Source
Point of Sale
Even during a power and/or internet outage, your organization will still be able to process payments through your Point of Sale system.
Maintain Critical Compliance
About USAT
USAT serves the nation’s critical infrastructure by creating secure communication networks that pass data wirelessly between key systems - linking remote personnel, locations, and machine assets.
USAT sells, designs, configures, and installs 4G and 5G wireless data communications hardware and software, providing targeted IoT connectivity solutions that fit our clients' exacting needs from top manufacturing partners.
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