The enterprise PSTN audit: uncovering your hidden legacy tech

With the 2027 PSTN switch-off fast approaching, most enterprise IT teams already have their core migration plans in motion. You know that analogue copper lines are going, your internet connectivity is sorted – or being sorted – and you likely know how you plan to replace your primary voice connections.
But for large, multi-site organisations, there’s a lot more to consider than just the standard phone on a desk. If yours is like many businesses, you might be concerned about the undocumented, legacy infrastructure hiding in the background. So now that your preparations are well underway, it’s time to audit the final, complex pieces of your network before they become a problem.

Find the forgotten endpoints

It’s easy to get distracted by the focus on broadband and voice. They’re the headline acts of the switch-off after all. But what about the lift alarms, security gates, older point-of-sale terminals, and even legacy fax machines?
If a lift alarm fails because its line has been disconnected, that immediately becomes a major compliance and safety issue.
So, how do you actually find them?

• Check the bill: It sounds obvious, but start with your billing. Are you paying line rental for numbers or services you don’t immediately recognise? That’s usually a good first clue.
• Talk to facilities: IT doesn’t always have visibility of the lines used for door entry systems or legacy alarms – but your facilities and building management teams will.
• Do a physical walkaround: It might sound old-fashioned, but a site-by-site physical audit is sometimes the only way to trace cables, accurately map those hidden endpoints, and plan their digital replacements.
• Ask your suppliers: Reach out to the vendors who manage your alarms, payment terminals or lift systems. They’ll usually know exactly what type of connection their equipment currently uses, and what you need to do to get it ready for the digital switch.

Check your PBX estate

The switch-off is the perfect time to look critically at your existing PBX setups. Many large businesses are managing a fragmented voice estate across different locations. If you’re dealing with end-of-life hardware, creeping maintenance contracts, site-specific systems and an overall lack of integration, there are better options out there.
Connecting your existing PBX to the digital network using SIP trunks is a perfectly valid option, especially if you want to extend the life of your current hardware. We help many businesses take exactly this route.
But it’s worth asking: does maintaining that physical infrastructure still make strategic sense, or are we simply delaying the inevitable?

Unify your communications

Instead of a like-for-like replacement to keep things ticking over, you can use this opportunity to look at fundamentally upgrading how your business communicates.
Swapping complex PBX hardware for a unified cloud solution gives you far more control and visibility. That’s where CloudComms makes a real difference.  It moves your entire voice infrastructure to the cloud, completely removing the maintenance burden of physical hardware, and adding a host of extra benefits.
Like a highly resilient, scalable system that works exactly the same way whether your team is at head office, on a remote site, or working from home. Or making and receiving calls on your mobile just like you would on your desk phone. As well as the many contact centre management features – included or optional – that help you build the perfect solution for your team(s).

Make the strategic switch

The 2027 deadline will soon be here. And with it come many opportunities – not least to build a more resilient voice network.
Find out how to future-proof your infrastructure and simplify your estate by visiting our CloudComms page or speaking to our team.