POTS Replacement

Carriers across the US are actively sunsetting copper POTS infrastructure. The cost of maintaining legacy lines is rising significantly in the interim, often dramatically. Globalgig POTS Replacement provides a managed transition to LTE cellular or VoIP, typically at up to 70% lower cost than using legacy analog lines. The complexity around non-voice analog devices — fire panels, alarms, fax lines — is something we handle as part of our service. Speak to us before your carrier forces the conversation.

Yes, this is one of the most important aspects of POTS Replacement to get right. Fire alarm control panels have specific requirements — they need to maintain reliable connectivity for alarm signaling, and the replacement technology must comply with fire code and life safety standards. Our POTS Replacement service covers fire panels specifically, with compliant LTE or VoIP solutions that meet fire code requirements. We assess each device type as part of the pre-deployment process.

Up to 70% compared to continuing using legacy POTS lines, depending on your current carrier rates and the replacement technology used. LTE cellular and VoIP alternatives are significantly cheaper to operate than aging copper infrastructure, particularly as carrier maintenance costs are increasingly passed to customers still using POTS lines. We can provide a site-by-site cost comparison based on your current POTS estate before you commit.

POTS stands for Plain Old Telephone Service — the traditional copper wire telephone infrastructure that has been the foundation of landline communications for over a century. Carriers are decommissioning copper infrastructure as it is expensive to maintain and has been superseded by IP-based alternatives. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States has approved carrier petitions to discontinue POTS in many areas, and similar transitions are underway internationally. If you have POTS lines, your carrier is either already raising costs significantly, or will do so in the future, and eventually will withdraw the service entirely.

Wired POTS replacement uses VoIP over your existing Ethernet network, or Globalgig wired connectivity, with an analog telephone adapter connecting your analog devices to the IP network. It is typically the most cost-effective option if wired connectivity is available. Wireless POTS replacement uses 4G LTE cellular connectivity, which is suitable for locations without wired connectivity, where wireless diversity is required for resilience, or when running new wired infrastructure is impractical.

It depends on the number of locations, the variety of analog devices in your estate, and the replacement technology being used. The pre-deployment device audit and coverage qualification are the most important steps, as getting those right determines how smoothly the deployment goes. We provide a clear timeline and project plan before deployment begins.