Inverness business offers free help for The Big Switch Off
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It was announced in 2017 that the UK would transition to a fully digital communications network. This will see the humble landline become a thing of the past in 2025, when the copper cable that brings traditional call technology to homes and businesses across the UK is switched for an internet-based connection.
But don’t worry, you’ll still be able to chat for hours on a traditional handset if you wish, you’ll just be connected differently.
Dubbed The Big Switch Off, businesses are currently in the process of needing to switch their analogue telephone services to digital. However, although the campaign has been going for five years, businesses are still being signed into new analogue contracts that surpass the 2025 cut off-date. Now a communications company from the Highlands is on a personal mission to make sure that this doesn’t continue to happen.
Leading the charge is CFN Solutions managing director, Ian MacIntosh, who alongside his team has launched a telecoms education campaign to support businesses across the Highlands.
Speaking about his outrage that businesses are still being signed up for analogue services, despite The Big Switch Off campaign, Ian said: “We have found that business are still being signed into new contracts for analogue services which will surpass their expected end of life, which to us just feels completely wrong.
“Another issue we are finding is that while telephone systems are being updated, the internet services, fax, alarm and door entry systems are not being reviewed. This means that when the time comes for the switch off, it may cause all sorts of issues for businesses who haven’t been advised properly.”
What CFN decided to do at the start of 2023, was to offer a free consultation service to all businesses and through this supply education on how the Big Switch Off will impact them.
Mr MacIntosh added: “The fact our consultation service is for free, has been questioned by some, as we are aware of some businesses across Scotland being charged for the same thing.
“But we are not a ‘sales first’ business – we genuinely want to help businesses in the Highlands with this as there is so much we are all having to contend with at the moment too.
“Whether it is a small or large business, we set out from the start that it doesn’t matter if they are out of contract or have years to go, that we will offer either a call or site visit to go over their current systems and requirements.
“For us it is getting too close to 2025 to not offer help, and as local leaders in providing telecom services we felt we needed to start banging the drum to make sure that fellow SME businesses don’t get caught out.”
Launched in April 2018, CFN Solutions provides office telephone systems, mobile, and internet connectivity.
It has offices in Kintail House, Inverness and its main office is in Banchory, Aberdeenshire.
CFN SOLUTIONS
IVtwo Business Centre, Kintail House,
Beechwood Park, Inverness,IV2 3BW
T: 01463 515096
E: inveress@cfn-solutions.co.uk
