In Europe, telecom service providers know that technology has continued to progress quickly. And that means that legacy technology, such as copper telephony lines, are on their way out. In September 2023, the European Commission urged Ireland’s communication’s provider ComReg to speed up Copper Switch Off (CSO) initiatives to enable a more efficient and seamless move to highspeed broadband networks. Spain began decommissioning its copper exchanges way back in 2016, France has begun to phase out copper and the widespread decommissioning of copper lines and the adoption of fiber optic lines in Europe has been accelerating since. While the end of legacy telephony infrastructure and services has been planned in many European countries for a while, for many organizations the clock is ticking to upgrade to cloud fax technology.
Depending on which country you reside in, deadlines to put alternative technology in place could be coming as soon as next year. As of today, the following dates have been outlined to retire legacy fax telephony infrastructure:
The end of the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
ISDN is a set of standards for the simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the digital circuits of the public switched telephone network. Before ISDN, the telephone system utilized digital links for long-distance connections, while analog signals traveled over copper telephone wires to customers in what is known as the last mile. Primarily designed for voice transport, the network required additional equipment such as modems or specialized setups.
Despite the initial expectations of high customer demand for its digital-quality voice, dual lines, and continuous data connectivity, ISDN has had limited global success. ISDN gained substantial traction in Europe, driven by regulatory support, infrastructural needs, and the lack of comparable high-speed communication technologies. Its ability to digitize the last mile of telecommunications significantly improved the quality and efficiency of voice, data, and video transmission over traditional analog systems. However, ISDN is also being systematically phased out by 2025, and is being largely replaced by VoIP technology.
So what’s the big deal?
For the many legacy fax users who have historically relied on analog lines to ensure that mission-critical services keep moving smoothly, failing to upgrade to cloud fax technology could result in an interruption of services, skyrocketing operational costs, and lost business. Now is the time to consider the benefits of online cloud fax services to ensure your organization is well-prepared for the change.
Who does this effect?
Most businesses and organizations rely heavily on fax to handle the transmission of important documents. For official (and confidential) documentation, email is not secure enough to qualify as a sufficient mode of communication. Therefore, companies in a variety of industries need a fax solution to send and receive documents and keep business running smoothly and efficiently.
Upgrade to cloud fax.
Deadlines aside, the sooner your organization moves to a secure online cloud fax service, the better. In a continually growing climate of data breaches and cyberattacks, cloud fax offers added security by transferring files digitally, which means the documents are stored in the cloud and only accessible by intended parties. Upland InterFAX’s online cloud fax services follow the most stringent security requirements, including PCI, HIPAA, GDPR, and more, providing additional security with end-to-end encryption.
InterFAX’s online cloud fax services are more cost-effective than traditional fax as well. With web-based fax, printing isn’t necessary, which means you’ll save on ink, toner, and paper – not to mention hardware maintenance and upkeep!
Fast, easy, and secure. Make the switch!
Upgrading your fax services from on-premises to the cloud is simple, and our dedicated Customer Support team can walk you through the process in just minutes. With InterFAX, there’s no installations needed! All you need is a computer and internet. We’re ready to help you get started.
Wrap Up
The transition from legacy copper telephony lines to high-speed broadband networks is accelerating, with deadlines for retiring legacy fax telephony infrastructure varying by country. For businesses reliant on analog fax lines, failing to upgrade to cloud fax could lead to service interruptions and increased operational costs. Cloud fax services, like Upland InterFAX, offer a secure and cost-effective alternative, ensuring compliance with stringent security requirements and eliminating the need for traditional fax hardware. When you upgrade to cloud fax, it’s straightforward and you’ll have dedicated customer support to assist you in the transition.
Learn more about how InterFAX’s online fax service can ensure the security of your communications. Sign up for a live demo or start a free trial today!
Have more questions about traditional fax vs. online cloud fax? Check out our blog.