Harrogate telecoms company asks local businesses: are you ready for the digital switchover?

This story is sponsored content.

A leading telecoms company based in Harrogate is asking local businesses an important question: how prepared are they for the upcoming digital switchover?

Xi Comms, based in Windsor House, has been working in the industry since 2008, providing advanced telecoms products and services to businesses in North Yorkshire and beyond.

Now co-owners Martin Taylor and Tony Mellor are using their combined knowledge to encourage companies to plan ahead and make sure they’re fully ready for the PSTN switch-off in two years’ time.

What is the PSTN switch-off?

Openreach announced that it would be retiring its current analogue platform, which uses underground copper wires to enable communication.

Simply put, this hardware can no longer meet modern requirements, so an upgrade to a fully digital phone network using IP (Internet Protocol) technology has been announced, with the wheels already in motion to cease using the older technology by 2027.

The sale of traditional phone lines ceased in 2023, and even the maintenance of pre-existing ones will stop after the switch off.

Any remaining services not switched to the new digital network will be lost.

How could this affect my business?

While 2027 might still seem relatively far away, the reality is that it’s no small feat to make the move. It’s not just about phone calls – it’s everything that’s connected to it, such as door entry systems, alarms and CCTV.

Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and the surrounding areas are lucky to host numerous small, independently owned businesses.

However, many of these – sometimes family-owned – enterprises have had the same systems and phone numbers for many generations, and may feel unsure as to where to begin. 

This is where Xi Comms can step in, helping companies stay connected to suppliers, customers and other contacts vital to ensuring the future of the business.

How can Xi Comms help me?

For the past decade, Xi Comms has worked with businesses across the district, delivering a range of telecommunication services, including cloud telephony, business broadbands, handsets, intelligent numbers and much more.

It has already helped numerous customers make the transition to digital operation smoothly, ahead of the PSTN switch-off in two years’ time. 

Describing Xi Comms as ‘something of a one-stop shop, with immense capabilities’, there’s one particular thing that director and co-owner Martin Taylor feels sets it apart from other competitors: a truly personal approach to customer service.

He said: 

Find out more

This story is sponsored by Xi Comms.

Xi Comms is located at Windsor House, Cornwall Road, HG1 2PW. For more information, visit the website.

You can also get in touch by phone at 0330 333 9200, or by filling out a contact form.