Transitioning and prioritizing for upgrades on or from legacy systems can be a complex process for any organization.

With 12 plus competing projects occurring at any given time how do you assess where your team should really be spending their time. The telecommunications industry is ever changing with new factors to consider when putting a strategy together. With 20+ years of industry experience, and a finger on the pulse of the industry, we want to ensure you are ahead of any forced impacts, both financially and operationally, that may be heading your way. This is especially when we are talking about services utilizing copper infrastructure.

The California Public Utilities Commission is considering an application by AT&T to waive its responsibilities as, what’s called, “Carrier of Last Resort,” which means the utility, AT&T, has to offer the copper-wire landline service. The utility said in its filings with the Commission that the technology for the traditional landlines is old. The utility, and many of its nationwide peers, have been petitioning state Utility Commissions and State Legislators, asking to be relieved of the task of maintaining and offering the traditional landline/copper based services. The reason AT&T and other phone utilities are struggling is because equipment is no longer being made to support the infrastructure and there is a shrinking number of employees who are qualified to service the network because they are either retiring or were laid off during downsizing. This isn’t only applicable to AT&T, but all of the Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) including AT&T, Lumen, Verizon who offer / maintain copper based facility services including phone lines, PRIs, T-1s and Ethernet Metro Connections.

Not only is there a high probability in the near future that you will be forced off this technology, but that the monthly rates for these services are starting to skyrocket. Recently upon onboarding a new IQ Wired client, we found they had 20 copper lines billing upwards of $900 each. Another new client stated they ‘didn’t know why an old T-1 line for a remote office tripled in cost’. It was simply there for two people in the office supporting field operations. Another client still had PRIs in their office from an acquisition they made years prior, but hadn’t had the time to go back and evaluate alternate options; but now must do so as the cost is doubling and their phone system is no longer supported by the manufacturer.

If you have any copper services, and we know you do, like phone lines for Alarm, Fire, Elevator, Postage, Fax, Voice and Internet T1s, it’s time to start educating your team on the alternatives. If you have remote offices supporting field operations or branches from acquisitions, it’s time to inventory them and get a strategy and roadmap together.

Properly transiting from legacy technology can be a complex endeavor that requires planning, execution and ongoing support. It’s important to partner with the right team to follow industry best practices and adapt your approach as needed to achieve success. We are here to help and understand these challenges better than most given our client portfolio, experience and tenure! Let’s get ahead before you get any more behind!