Time to Update Your POTS Line

Sep 8, 2022 | By Chris Carrero

Are you currently using plain old telephone service (POTS) lines for your fax, security/fire alarms, POS terminals, elevators, or even voice service? You might have noticed your rates recently changing, and not for the better.

 

Major carriers are raising rates because they are sunsetting their copper service as the FCC no longer requires them to maintain it. Three years ago, the FCC mandated the decommissioning POTS lines by August 2, 2022. While the use is declining and should get replaced immediately, the commission is not enforcing this deadline just yet. However, the need to digitally transform your POTS is real and needs to be addressed.

 

The various FCC rule changes are reducing incentives, making it less advantageous for copper phone line-based Incumbent and Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs/CLECs) than those alternative service providers adopting more advanced and competitive technologies & infrastructure.

 

There are close to 40 million POTS lines on various ILEC and CLECs. Many ILECs/CLECs, such as AT&T & Verizon, have started phasing out their support of analog POTS lines, converting customers to services using more competitive wireless or VoIP technologies. Therefore, it is time for ILECs/CLECs to quickly plan the transition out of traditional copper telephone line-based services.

 

Carriers no longer invest in copper lines, and as the POTS lines continue to age, delivering POTS services will get more expensive with fewer service options. But with MetTel’s POTS Transformation, our clients from Convergent get the best “POTS-in-a-Box” solution on the market with MetTel’s managed service and wireless capabilities to support it. MetTel also allows customers to maintain legacy equipment and plug in preconfigured solutions with all accessories. Features/differentiators include:

 

  • Device connects to the internet via broadband, Wi-Fi and/or Dual SIM 4G LTE
  • Supports up to 8 lines
  • 3-way redundancy & backup - backup battery for true-failover and business continuity
  • Highest level of security
  • Most reliable cellular connectivity
  • Carrier certified for device and 4G module: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile
  • Fully managed: deployment, professional install, over-the-air firmware updates, device break, emergency replacement
  • Cloud-based management portals, device manager, cloud PBX with SMS and email alerts SMS and email alerts

 

There is a definite need to replace your copper circuits and our POTS Transformation solution is the best in the industry. Let Convergent and MetTel transform your POTS lines by providing a turnkey, fully-managed solution. Our fully managed service allows you to have a single invoice, with AI-powered monitoring and alerts, remote firmware updates, and break/fix emergency replacement. Talk to one of our trusted advisors to see how you can upgrade your POTS line into a seamless digital voice service.