The OpenReach Switch off - FTTC?

[timbo343]

I'm reading mixed reports that FTTC will either be disconnected or no effected when it comes to either 2025 / 2027 or when OpenReach decide when enough is enough.

 

Does anyone know the answer to this?

 

We have a number of schools that have an on-premise phone system with dedicated FTTC line with SIP Trunks. We have a number of different suppliers across the trust and will eventually have one phone provider.

 

What i'm wanting to know is, does anyone know if those schools with FTTC and SIP trunks will be affected by the OpenReach switch off?

 

If te phone systems are connected to a router, the FTTC line will not be affected?

 

Or is the switchoff only affecting the PSTN sockets / connections of the microfilter? If we have nothing plugged into the PSTN side of the microfilter and ONLY using the RJ11 side of a microfilter will our sites be ok?

Edited June 22, 2024 by timbo343

[FN-GM]

From what I understand it’s just the PSTN that is switching off. So phones now only go over VOIP. So you should be set.

[timbo343]

From what I understand it’s just the PSTN that is switching off. So phones now only go over VOIP. So you should be set.

 

That's what I was lead to believe too. I wonder if it's those telecoms businesses that don't fully understand.

 

Happy to be corrected though.

[PrimaryNetMan]

Maybe the telcos are getting confused with PSTN switch off and Openreach Stop Sell rules https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/products/the-all-ip-programme/stopsell-updates

[XiJ]

The PSTN switch off has been delayed as well understand.

 

Openreach want (told to) go all fibre. But there’s lots of life left in last mile copper yet imo

[alastair-nynet]

I'm not sure my words will be too re-assuring as you have heard them before! As above, only the PSTN is switching off. Some people will say that FTTC is ending, it is partially true. GEA-FTTC will cease as a product, this product needs a PSTN (using the WLR3 product) to work. However, Openreach have brought in SOGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access) to fix this, its exactly the same FTTC line but without a PSTN/WLR service. Your provider can switch you from GEA-FTTC to SOGEA as Openreach have finally released a process for it. The only issue is that it currently costs. I was at BT Tower last week with Openreach and raised how it was ridiculous that CPs/End Users should need to pay to allow Openreach to close the PSTN network, hopefully they will see wisdom soon but in the meantime, don't worry about it, your FTTC will keep working. You shouldnt even notice the switch to SOGEA as its just a removal of jumpers. We are going to do a test migration soon at a site where FTTC is the backup. Happy to let you know how it goes.

 

EDIT TO ADD: It's worth adding that this isn't the case everywhere. There is a stop-sell in some places, for you for example Tadcaster, where, if FTTP is available you at some point will no longer be able to buy FTTC. But Openreach are rolling out a 4 port FTTP OLT so it will be easier to have multiple lines on FTTP without a fibre for each.

Edited June 23, 2024 by alastair-nynet

[timbo343]

I'm not sure my words will be too re-assuring as you have heard them before! As above, only the PSTN is switching off. Some people will say that FTTC is ending, it is partially true. GEA-FTTC will cease as a product, this product needs a PSTN (using the WLR3 product) to work. However, Openreach have brought in SOGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access) to fix this, its exactly the same FTTC line but without a PSTN/WLR service. Your provider can switch you from GEA-FTTC to SOGEA as Openreach have finally released a process for it. The only issue is that it currently costs. I was at BT Tower last week with Openreach and raised how it was ridiculous that CPs/End Users should need to pay to allow Openreach to close the PSTN network, hopefully they will see wisdom soon but in the meantime, don't worry about it, your FTTC will keep working. You shouldnt even notice the switch to SOGEA as its just a removal of jumpers. We are going to do a test migration soon at a site where FTTC is the backup. Happy to let you know how it goes.

 

EDIT TO ADD: It's worth adding that this isn't the case everywhere. There is a stop-sell in some places, for you for example Tadcaster, where, if FTTP is available you at some point will no longer be able to buy FTTC. But Openreach are rolling out a 4 port FTTP OLT so it will be easier to have multiple lines on FTTP without a fibre for each.

Thanks Alastair, to be honest. When you told me nearly a year ago, i didn't really understand, i remember you said to me "you'd be ok" but wanted to further understand why Telcos were pushing working FTTC lines with VOIP phone systems connectes to routers down the route of "you must upgrade to SoGEA or FTTP".

 

I guess it's future proofing however from what i understand there is no immediate rush just yet for those sites.

[TheHyperTechie]

Yeah, it's just PTSN that's being switched off. It was due to end in 2025 I believe, but this has now been delayed until 2027, I think they realised that lots of businesses aren't ready for that change quite yet...

 

FTTC is fine though.

[alastair-nynet]

I think some of the difficulty is around the messaging, its often unclear and the idea that you are 'upgrading' to SOGEA. If anything you are downgrading as you no longer have a phone line! You will need to switch to SOGEA either by the deadline or if you want to change the speeds on the line. Edited June 24, 2024 by Dos_Box

[FN-GM]

I find it interesting that they continued with the PSTN network for so long. Many other countries (Australia for example) moved everyone over to VOIP when they were upgraded to Fibre (Fibre To The Cabinet included).

[timbo343]

Yeah, it's just PTSN that's being switched off. It was due to end in 2025 I believe, but this has now been delayed until 2027, I think they realised that lots of businesses aren't ready for that change quite yet...

 

FTTC is fine though.

 

The suppliers of our phone systems (various suppliers) that i have spoken to says that turning off the PSTN will disable the FTTC connection on the line too so we have to upgrade to SoGEA.

[TheHyperTechie]

The suppliers of our phone systems (various suppliers) that i have spoken to says that turning off the PSTN will disable the FTTC connection on the line too so we have to upgrade to SoGEA.

 

Oh that is odd. After reading online, this does seem to be the case for areas where FTTP is still un-available to them. The only offering is SoGEA instead. However... SoGEA seems to be just another name for an FTTC connection that only carries data, rather than a typical FTTC connection that carries voice + data.

[timbo343]

Oh that is odd. After reading online, this does seem to be the case for areas where FTTP is still un-available to them. The only offering is SoGEA instead. However... SoGEA seems to be just another name for an FTTC connection that only carries data, rather than a typical FTTC connection that carries voice + data.

 

Indeed it does, instead of carrying an analogue phone line, it will carry a digital phone line.

[timbo343]

We had a test on Friday regarding our FTTC connection that our phone system with SIPs sits on.

 

Our phone supplier, turned off the PSTN side of the line and low and behold the phone system continued to work because it's not plugged into the PSTN port on the microfilter, the phone system is plugged into the router > router into the RJ11 port on the microfilter > microfilter into the OpenReach master socket on the wall.

 

To me this proves that anyone with an active FTTC connection with their phone system via the connection of the line will not be affected. I wish telecom providers would tell their customers about this!!

[FN-GM]

I wish telecom providers would tell their customers about this!!

 

The full name is telecommunications. Communications… oh the irony.

[Davit2005]

Mean while (8 months since order) still waiting for FTTP. Oh well at least my 4g is quicker than my vDSL FTTC, lol.