August 2024
Unless you keep up-to-date with technology, you might not know that BT (in the UK) are phasing out landlines. By the end of 2025 the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) system will be switched off because it is a very old outdated system which uses / used to make use of complicated switching along with copper cables. Optical Fibre cables are now used because they work better!
What does this mean to you as a home / residential or business user?
The main impact will be that you will not be able to use a landline instrument when there is a power cut. This might effect some people more than others.
The new method to replace PSTN, which started to come into use about 2 + years ago, is to connect your landline instrument to the ISP router. This means that your voice calls go through the router and ultimately via the Internet, using a system called VOIP (Voice Over IP) or VOB (Voice Over Broadband). It does this seamlessley and the quality of voice calls is usually pretty good. In principle this is a good idea beause the fibre cables offer lots of advantages.
If you don’t currently have a Broadband Internet connection, this might be a problem. If you don’t have a router, you won’t be able to use a landline instrument to make use of VOIP. Solutions to this are apparently still being looked at but it would seem that the popular solution is to have a Broadband connection along with something similar to a VOIP Router
This is a good read if you don’t currently have a broadband connection.
It you currently have a Broadband Internet Connection, it is likely that your ISP will have provided a new router (Internet Gateway) during the past 2 years or so. The new routers have an extra one or 2 sockets (ports) that enable you to connect your landline instrument to the router. No additional kit is needed but you might need some additional cabling or you could use “cordless phones” and have the base station close to the router.
In a power cut situation, you will not be able to connect to the Internet if your router (Internet Gateway) is not powered
If you have mobile / cell phone, you might still be able to use it for making voice calls and Internet access but if the power cut affects the Mobile Mast, you won’t be able to use your mobile phone. In principal there will be a communications black out.
All is not lost the solution is (drum roll) a “Battery Backup” or a UPS (uninteruptable Power Supply). The use of UPS and / or Battery Backup has been used in businesses for many years to provide power to computers to allow a “graceful shutdown” during a powercut. Sometimes they allow the Computers to remain running for x hours.
In theory
All you need to do to maintain an Internet connection during a power cut is to provide Power to your router, using a battery backup or UPS.
If the router has power, it should be possible to get an Internet connection along with making VOIP calls.
If you have a laptop or tablet, that will already be battery powered. Desktop PCs would need a UPS.
“Street Furniture” (Telecoms cabinets) will or should have a UPS but may only have enough capacity for maybe an hour of usage. Mobile Masts are the same. The “capacity” of the UPS will be down to the ISPs / Mobile mast owners.
It seems that not all telecoms cabinets have battery backup so even if you have battery power to the router, you might still not be able to access the Internet. Northern Powergrid have advised that “Internet, Landline, and Mobile providers should all have UPS in place to support customers during an outage”. They also advise speaking with your provider to confirm what support they have in place for you. I am aware that BT are offering a free battery backup device for vulnerable people or for a cost of about £80 if you’re not a vulnerable person!
THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
The use of Battery Backup / UPS devices could become very desirable to maintain an Internet connection during power cuts to enable just basic voice calls along with other Internet services. There isn’t really anything you can do with regards to mobile masts to keep your cell phone working during a power cut.
The UPS device is basically a box with a “rechargable battery” installed. In normal use it is installed between the main power supply and a device such as a computer or router. In effect the battery is providing the power to the attached device and when there is a power cut, the battery continues to supply the attached device with power until the battery becomes depleted.
There are currently UPS devices that will provide a router with “battery power” for 1 up to maybe 4 hours during a power cut! Something worth a look at, a divice that replaces the PSU for the router and has built-in battery backup,
The battery in the UPS device might need replacing maybe every couple of years!
Just think of the millions of people that would benefit from having one or more UPS devices and then think of the repeat business selling replacement batteries or replacement UPS devices.
Its likely that ISPs will be trying to sell UPS devices but they are likely to be greedy!
Should you want to take up the business opportunity of supplying UPS devices, do a bit more homework and go for it. Affiliate marketing is a good way to dip your toe into it but becoming an agent where you buy stock to resell would be another way.
The thing to bear in mind is that a lot of poeple won’t mind not having an Internet connection or not being able to use voice calls for a few hours – during a power outage.
How about an emergency (LED) lighting system, powered by Battery Backup / UPS, definitely safer than candles 🙂
How about a UPS device to power the TV and set top box so you can watch telly during a power cut.
How about supplying a generator that would power a household during a power cut – maybe a bit OTT but there will be people willing to pay for this.
The people with Solar Panals and battery backup, may not be affected during a power cut.
The end of PSTN is not the end of the world, it can create opportunies.