Riding the Crest of the Wave Part 3 and the Big Copper Switch-off Approaches

CREATED BY PRITESH GANATRA Published: 13/05/2025 @ 09:00AM #Blackberry #RiseAndFall #SecureEmail #HandsetMarket #2023Documentary

And all of a sudden, we had Blackberry dominating the Global market. Watch the 2023 documentary of the Rise and Fall of one of the most secure email systems in the world, which is no longer with us in the handset market ...

I have been fortunate to have ridden the crest of the wave and I am still in the industry!

Yet, whilst I write this latest blog post, Blackberry Limited (formerly Research in Motion), now a software company, has posted profits, backed by a resilient demand for cybersecurity services amid rising online threats.

In this final instalment of my fantastic career in Technology
I am going to go backwards from here!

Firstly, we are at the present date of May 2025, and you now have less than a year to decide how you are going to replace your old 3Com, Avaya, Ericsson, LG / LG-Ericsson. Mitel, NEC, Phillips, Samsung or Toshiba phone systems that work on ISDN2e / ISDN30e.

This is because in December 2025, Openreach is decommissioning all equipment in BT Exchanges that generate a dial tone, known as the PSTN and ISDN networks. They cannot discontinue/decommission the physical copper cable in the ground as we still have SoGEA (fibre-copper hybrid-based broadband that does NOT require a dial tone).

BTS (UK) have been supplying this version of
FTTC since 2019.

So, as we venture even further into the murk of the virtual world, we need to ensure our voice is clear and on par with the current copper-based public voice networks. How do we achieve this I hear you ask?

The first and most essential step is to ensure you have 'business-grade' broadband. I won't bore you to death in this blog post about the technicalities and complexities of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and that not all broadband is the same quality. Just make sure you have a solid, business-grade ISP with a static IP (I will cover this in a future blog post).

Secondly, modify some of your email systems and use advanced off-site filtering to limit the volume of false emails you get (again, I will cover this in a future blog post). You may be thinking right now, what on earth is Pritesh talking about? In layman's terms, it's to ensure your connection is the best possible quality, stays 'clean', and that your bandwidth usage is never compromised.

Thirdly, a decent firewall both on-site and at the hosted telephony provider's end. And there is the defining words: "the hosted telephony provider". The questions to ask are:

• Where are the servers that house that telephony software?
• How many fully qualified and trained engineers are there in the UK for the VoIP system you are thinking of purchasing in place of your solid ISDN-backed Mitel, Avaya, (Siemens) HiPath, Nortel, ShoreTel, Toshiba, Philips, Panasonic or Samsung systems?
• What resilience does the Hosted Telephony provider offer in terms of multi-point routing, and do they have their own diverse routed internet connections to ensure your call is always 'on', even if one of their connections drops?

That's it for this blog post! There will be quite a number of continuations for this topic. There's a lot more to it than meets the eye.

Until next time ...

PRITESH GANATRA
Your technology problem solver

Share the blog love ...

Buffer Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pinterest WhatsApp #Blackberry #RiseAndFall #SecureEmail #HandsetMarket #2023Documentary

About Pritesh Ganatra ...
The word 'Technology' has too many connotations in today's world! Where do we start? Simple terms like 'IT' and 'Telecoms'? or terms that appear NOT to have an actual meaning at all!, e.g. 'Internet of Things (IoT). Technology also encompasses specialist products and services like 'Rugged' and 'Tough' android devices, Lone Worker Software, panic alarm devices, smart energy devices, low energy lighting, credit card terminal (PCI DSS) security, indoor/ outdoor Wi-Fi systems, Ultrafast Gigabit internet connectivity, access control systems, industrial IoT circuit controllers. BTS UK can consult from simple solutions to the most complex, provide some of the products through a wholesale channel, bring together a multi-disciplined 'Task Force' to deliver and implement complete Technology 'projects'. I am your technology problem solver and I look forward to helping you.

More blog posts for you to enjoy ...
		Is digital money about to go mainstream in 2026? Digital money is edging closer to everyday life, with regulators, banks and central banks aligning. This post looks at what might click into place in 2026, from tokenised payments to a UK digital pound. It's not guaranteed, b...
		The impact of infrastructure disruption in modern conflict Conflict is no longer confined to physical battlegrounds, as critical systems such as oil facilities, gas pipelines, data centres and communication networks are now key targets. When these systems are damaged or taken offline...
		Datacentres Demand Power and Water: How Will AI Affect Our Resources? As the ascent of datacentres keeps accelerating, driven by advancements in generative AI and quantum processors, the demands for electricity and water are growing alarmingly. This surge not only strains resources, but also ha...
		The alarming decline of basic survival skills in modern education In an era dominated by technology, the lack of Basic Survival Skills in education raises concerns about future generations. As society becomes increasingly reliant on devices and connectivity, essential life skills are being ...
		Do You Test Your Email Systems Regularly? I recently sent an email to someone I had previously corresponded with. When I got a bounce-back, I thought I had the wrong address or made a typo. I doubted myself, as that is my nature, but seeing the email address in my ‘h...
		5 minutes with Pritesh: My thoughts on the future of telecomms infrastructure I have been involved in many aspects of the telecoms and tech markets for the past 36 years, from selling the first PCs using Intel 286 chips in the early 90s, to supplying high-end phone systems and becoming a fully qualifie...
		Are AI tools disruptive to the human psyche in modern life? Are AI tools disruptive in ways people don't notice until things feel off? This post looks at why younger adults ask AI for life advice, where the risks sit, and how families and firms can respond without panic. It's a pragma...
		What Is The Most Important Part Of Your Business Network? The final words from a recent blog post led me to determine a business network's common point of failure. We're heading into the VoIP era and plunging feet-first into having the traditional PSTN/ISDN networks disconnected for...

Other bloggers you may like ...
		Visiting Milton Keynes this Summer? Serviced accommodation is the smarter way to stay! Posted by Emily Freeman on https://blog.shortstay-mk.co.uk If you're planning a trip to Milton Keynes this summer, you're probably already thinking about where to stay. Hotels might seem like the obvious choic ...
		The art of work-life integration for a calmer, smarter career Posted by Dave Cordle on https://blog.davecordle.co.uk If work-life balance feels like a tug-of-war, then work-life integration provides a smarter approach. You can organise your week so that work, health, ...
		Rising costs, slowing growth: How war is hitting the UK economy right now Posted by Roger Eddowes on https://blog.essendonaccounts.co.uk The risks of war to the UK economy are very real; they can quickly impact energy bills, inflation, and business confidence. My blog post today explain ...
		7 ways a smart AI chatbot works for you while you sleep Posted by Steffi Lewis on https://www.yourbot.uk Imagine waking up in the morning to new leads waiting in your inbox, warmed-up prospects, and questions already answered. That's not wishful thinking, ...