The end of a reliable but outdated technology
Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) refers to the traditional analog phone system that runs over copper lines and has powered voice calls, fax machines, and modems for decades. Known for its reliability, POTS has been a trusted communication method for generations. But as technology advances, this aging infrastructure can no longer meet modern demands.
Major telecom carriers have stopped investing in their POTS infrastructure, with many actively retiring copper lines altogether. As a result, businesses still relying on analog services are facing rising maintenance costs, limited support, and increasing pressure to transition to modern, IP-based alternatives.
As organizations plan their transition away from POTS, many have questions about what comes next—this article answers the 6 most common concerns about replacing analog phone lines.
What questions are organizations asking about migrating from POTS?
Businesses and public entities alike have started replacing their POTS lines—either through internal teams or by outsourcing the transition to a contractor. Regardless of the approach, many questions often arise throughout the process. We have put together a list of frequently asked questions about migrating from analog lines.
1. Why are companies moving away from POTS lines?
Technical, economic and strategic factors are driving companies to replace traditional (copper-based) telephony with VoIP and cloud solutions.
- End of POTS support
Incumbent operators are gradually closing down the switched telephone network (POTS), making maintenance complex and costly. Equipment and spare parts are no longer manufactured. - Cutting costs
Solutions such as VoIP and IP telephony use existing Internet infrastructure, enabling significant savings, particularly on long-distance and international calls. - Flexibility and scalability
IP telephony adapts easily to changes in the company (addition of lines, new sites, teleworking) and integrates with collaborative tools (messaging, videoconferencing, CRM, etc.). - More advanced features
Alternatives to POTS offer advanced services such as e-mail voicemail, call recording or intelligent queuing, enhancing productivity and the customer experience. - Mobility and teleworking
Employees can access their business line from a smartphone, PC or softphone, anywhere, anytime. - Modernization of IT infrastructure
Migration to IP telephony supports digital transformation and cloud migration projects, while simplifying network architecture (voice/data convergence). - Compliance and security
Today’s solutions guarantee better data management, encrypted communications and compliance with current regulations (such as RGPD).
2. When are providers planning to discontinue these services?
Carriers have already begun gradually phasing out POTS lines. They are expected to be fully discontinued by 2030 in Europe and by 2027 in the United States.
3. Is my infrastructure ready to migrate from POTS to a newer solution?
To answer this question, you need to conduct an audit to assess bandwidth, network equipment, and security systems. This analysis can be carried out internally, or it can be outsourced to a service provider.
4. What infrastructure upgrades are required to support VoIP or UCaaS solutions?
If you opt for VoIP or UCaaS solutions, you should be aware that they do not generally require major infrastructure transformations, but they do demand optimized, secure and reliable connectivity. A small, targeted initial investment guarantees lasting quality of service and high user satisfaction.
We have compiled a checklist of recommended upgrades.
| Area to be upgraded | Typical action |
| Internet bandwidth | Increase and optimize bandwidth |
| Network equipment | Upgrade routers/switches with QoS and PoE |
| Security | Configure firewalls, SBC and encryption |
| User equipment | Deploy headsets, webcams, softphones |
| Identity and access | Integrate with AD or SSO |
| Preparing for the cloud | Optimize network paths to UCaaS provider |
5. How does VoIP call quality compare with traditional systems in actual use?
Organizations looking to replace their traditional telephony with VoIP are wondering how call quality is affected. They want to compare it to traditional systems in actual use.
VoIP call quality can exceed that of telephony based on copper networks. This is due to these VoIP advantages:
- Extended frequency range (50-7000 Hz and more) versus 300-3400 Hz in PSTN, for superior voice clarity and detail.
- On a stable connection, calls are crystal-clear and latency-free.
- In the office, good QoS and sufficient bandwidth enable VoIP to outperform analog systems.
- VoIp incorporates features such as noise suppression and echo cancellation.
What are the main quality indicators for VoIp?
| Indicator | Recommended value |
| Latency | < 150 ms |
| Jitter | < 30 ms |
| Packet loss | < 1 % |
| MOS (Mean Opinion Score) | > 4.0 (out of 5) for high quality |
6. What technical errors should be avoided during migration?
7. What is the best alternative to POTS?
The answer depends on your organization’s specific needs and existing infrastructure. To replace systems that require 24/7 uptime as well as compliance with regulations, POTS-in-a-box is the best choice. This POTS alternative emulates traditional phone lines while using fiber or LTE. These devices are purpose-built to support fire alarms, elevator emergency phones, security systems, and point-of-sale terminals without requiring a full system upgrade.
For general business communication, VoIP and UCaaS offer scalable, cost-effective alternatives to POTS. VoIP enables internet-based voice calls with features like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and auto attendants—ideal for businesses modernizing without heavy hardware investments. UCaaS goes further by combining voice, video, messaging, and file sharing into one cloud-based platform, making it perfect for remote or hybrid teams.
Other solutions include cellular-based solutions for remote operations (ideal for construction sites or fields), IoT-enabled communication models for industrial automation, SIP Trunking for enterprises with complex telephony setups, and so on.
8. POTS alternatives rely on an Internet connection. What is the backup plan in case the new solutions fail?
Modern POTS alternatives are designed with fallback plans in mind. Solutions like POTS-in-a-box contain a built-in battery backup, which ensures continued operation during power outages. To maximize uptime, today’s solutions also include integrated 4G/5G/LTE radios that automatically take over if the primary Internet connection fails. These cellular modules are engineered for low power consumption, helping to extend the life of the battery and keep essential systems online until power or connectivity is restored.
For VoIP and UCaaS users, backup plans often include failover internet connections (such as a secondary broadband or cellular network), uninterruptible power supplies, and cloud-based call routing that can redirect calls to mobile devices or alternate locations.
9. How can I ensure a reliable Internet connection and sufficient bandwidth for VoIP?
If you are looking to replace your traditional telephony with VoIp, you need to follow a procedure (illustrated in the table below) to ensure a reliable connection, as well as sufficient bandwidth.
| Title | Details |
| Calculate bandwidth requirements | – Formula: Bandwidth required (kbps) = simultaneous calls × codec bandwidth- Codec G.711: 80-100 kbps per call- Example: 50 × 100 kbps = 5 Mbps (up and down)- Margin: add 25-30% for signaling, jitter buffers and non-VoIP traffic |
| Prioritizing VoIP traffic with QoS | – Why: voice traffic is sensitive to delay and jitter – How: – Configure QoS on routers/switches to give VoIP the highest priority – Prioritize SIP, RTP protocols and VoIP port ranges – Segment VoIP into a dedicated VLAN to isolate traffic |
| Choose a pro-quality Internet connection | – Criteria : – Fiber or dedicated link with symmetrical speeds – SLA (service level agreement) guaranteeing availability and latency – Low-latency providers and good peering with your UCaaS/VoIP hosting provider |
| Implementing redundancy and failover | – Strategies : – Use two ISP connections with automatic failover to avoid interruptions – Consider SD-WAN to intelligently distribute traffic over multiple links and guarantee continuity |
| Continuously monitor network performance | – Indicators: – Latency < 150 ms – Jitter < 30 ms – Packet loss < 1% – MOS (Mean Opinion Score) > 4.0 ideal- Actions: set up alerts and performance dashboards |
| Stabilize the internal network | – Best practices : – Prioritize Gigabit Ethernet over Wi-Fi for VoIP phones and softphones – Upgrade switches/routers to support: QoS, PoE (Power over Ethernet) to power IP extensions – Adjust SIP ALG settings (enable or disable as needed) |
| Limit competing traffic | – Measures : – Apply traffic shaping or bandwidth quotas to non-critical applications (file downloads, video streaming) – Schedule large backups and updates outside office hours |
| Test before deployment | – Procedures : – Perform a VoIP readiness audit with simulation tools to stress-test the network – Perform packet captures during peak hours to identify potential bottlenecks |
10. What is the ROI of replacing POTS lines?
The ROI (return on investment) associated with migration to IP or cloud telephony is both financial (cost reduction) and operational (flexibility, quality of service, customer satisfaction).
- Lower infrastructure costs
- No more maintenance costs for legacy copper systems (physical PBX, dedicated cabling).
- Simplified equipment: a single Internet connection is all that’s needed to transport voice.
- Reduced IT support workload
- Cloud solutions are often managed by the supplier, reducing the internal workload.
- Fewer support tickets due to line or handset failures.
- Increased productivity
- Features such as voicemail-to-email, presence management and intelligent queuing optimize call handling.
- Integration with business tools (CRM, ERP) to increase the efficiency of sales and support teams.
- Improved customer experience
- Better call routing, less wasted time and greater availability of advisors.
- Call analytics optimize response times and resource allocation.
- Scalability without major costs
- Rapid deployment of new sites or remote collaborators without heavy investment in infrastructure.
- Easy adjustment of licenses according to activity.
- ROI achieved in 12 to 24 months
- In most cases, savings cover deployment costs in less than two years.
- The return on investment is even faster when it forms part of an overall digital transformation process.
The table below shows an example of how to calculate the financial ROI of replacing analog lines with the cloud.
| Cost item | (PSTN) | After (Cloud) |
| Hardware maintenance | 25,000/year | 0 $ |
| Telecom costs | 60,000/year | 35,000/year |
| IT admin time (FTE) | 15,000/year | 5,000/year |
| Licenses | 0 $ | 20,000/year |
Annual savings: (25k + 60k + 15k) – (0 + 35k + 5k + 20k) = $40,000/year
The table below shows an example of how to calculate the financial ROI of replacing analog lines with the cloud.
11. How do today’s communication tools facilitate remote or hybrid working better than older systems?
Modern communication platforms are designed for agility. They enable distributed teams to stay connected, productive and secure, wherever they work.
- Access from anywhere, on any device
- Modern platforms (such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.) are in the cloud, allowing users to connect from a laptop, smartphone or tablet, whether at home, in the office or on the move.
- Traditional systems (such as on-premises PBXs) often force users to remain tied to landline phones or use a VPN, making mobility difficult.
- Unified communications features
- These tools bring together voice, video, messaging, file sharing and presence in a single interface.
- Employees no longer need multiple tools to make calls, organize meetings and collaborate – everything is centralized and synchronized in real time.
- Smooth collaboration between teams
- Integrated screen sharing, document co-editing, virtual whiteboards and discussion threads enable real-time collaboration, even with globally distributed teams.
- Traditional systems generally lack these capabilities, or require costly, disconnected add-ons.
- Greater availability and flexibility
- Employees can make business calls from any location and on any device, thanks to softphones or mobile applications.
- Call forwarding, automatic switchboards and voicemail by e-mail guarantee continuity of communications, even when not physically at the office.
- Better management and more accurate analysis
- Administrators can centrally monitor usage, quality and security, deploy remote updates and easily support users.
- Traditional systems require physical maintenance and offer limited visibility of user behavior and call quality.
- Cost-effective adaptation
- Adding users or activating new sites requires no physical installation, just a license and an Internet connection.
- This is ideal for companies with fluctuating workforces, satellite offices or hybrid working policies.
- Improved security and compliance
- Modern platforms offer end-to-end encryption, user authentication and compliance tools (e.g. RGPD, HIPAA).
- Traditional systems often lack the flexibility to meet evolving security and compliance requirements in a remote working environment.
12. What are the criteria for evaluating a service provider to handle the POTS migration?
You have decided you want to outsource your POTS migration to a team of professionals. But how do you choose the right provider? While the answer may vary, every contractor must meet these general requirements to manage the transition effectively:
- Expertise in alternative technologies such as VoIP, LTE, fiber, and POTS-over-IP, along with the ability to manage specific use cases.
- Ability to conduct a precise inventory of active PSTN lines and identify critical uses.
- A tailored approach with guidance in selecting the most suitable solution.
- Capacity for multi-site deployment, both nationally and internationally.
- Strong focus on security and resilience of the solution.
- High-quality support and managed services to ensure ongoing performance.
Conclusion
It is entirely reasonable for organizations to approach the transition away from POTS with caution. After decades of reliable service, any change to critical infrastructure warrants careful consideration. However, the long-term cost and operational benefits of modern alternatives consistently outweigh the rising expenses and limitations of maintaining legacy analog systems. As telecom providers continue discontinuing copper lines, replacing POTS is becoming unavoidable. Planning the transition ahead of time gives you more control. By acting now, you set your organization up for long-term reliability and savings.
Afraid of something going wrong during your POTS migration? Here’s a list of the most common mistakes, and how to avoid them.