AT&T announced last year they will be discontinuing service to traditional landline phone services by 2029. Landlines, also called plain old telephone service (POTS), use copper wire to transmit signals for phone calls.
AT&T says the antiquated systems are expensive to maintain, unreliable, and the number of customers still using the outdated technology continues to fall.
Instead, the phone carrier will expand its existing network of fiber broadband for phone connections.
Fiber Internet
Broadband internet with fiber optic cables uses light to transmit information as opposed to the electrical current used in traditional copper wires. The signal travels at astonishing speeds, roughly two-thirds the speed of light.
Customers may be inclined to wait to upgrade their copper phone lines since they will not be discontinued for another four years, but waiting could increase costs in the long run.
As material and construction costs continue to rise, businesses could end up spending far more on fiber installation in four years compared to today and would spend valuable time facing delays maintaining their insufficient copper infrastructure.
Costs associated with POTS lines will continue to rise as providers like AT&T work towards discontinuing the service. More modern connections like cellular or fiber are better supported, considerably cheaper and will show better performance in the long run.
Aside from the benefits of increased speeds and more reliable service, fiber optic cables or cellular internet also open the doors to the cutting edge of fire and life safety technology.
Connected Life Safety Services
Connected Life Safety Services, from Honeywell and available through Tech Electronics, relies on the speed of fiber optic cables or cellular internet to connect every component of your fire safety system.
This digital solution offers the fastest alarm transmission on the market, which results in faster emergency personnel response times that can contribute to saving lives and property.
The CLSS Gateway integrates with Honeywell’s Notifier Fire Alarm series to track, manage and maintain your fire safety system. The software allows users to view their system details, real-time event activity, and up to date system compliance documentation. The CLSS app solution is available on a laptop or PC, and through the CLSS mobile app.
Users can also access real-time CLSS connectivity through the CLSS pathway or third-party supported software integration available with supported communicators like Starlink (from NAPCO), AES radio, and Telguard.
There is a broad range of benefits that can be accessed through CLSS features without using the CLSS Gateway and Notifier control panels, although they are preferred method to unlock the full set of available functions and features in the technology.
This unprecedented access places facility management in your pocket or on your PC, anytime, anywhere.
In the event of a fire or other life safety system event, CLSS can also generate real-time alerts and reports, providing facility managers with the information they need for prudent decision-making.
CLSS can be used to produce, streamline, and manage compliance reports like an NFPA 72 annual inspection and testing reports as well as NFPA 72 Record of Completion reports. CLSS can conduct these functions with or without real-time CLSS cloud connections using hardware components like the CLSS Gateway or Pathway, which are sold separately.
With an upgrade to more modern phone service like cellular connection or fiber broadband, the safety of your facility can be right at your fingertips.
Tech Electronics offers all CLSS options including the gateway, pathway and supported third-party integration, along with a variety of Notifier products to modernize your fire alarm system. To schedule a consultation, contact us.
