MARKET REPORT SIP
25% of businesses aren’t aware of
the ISDN switch-off according to
TalkTalk
SIP – still the logical choice?
2020 marks a significant milestone for SIP as a technology. The SIP providers are out there trying to hoover
up the last remaining ISDN circuits as we approach the 2025 deadline. Questions linger as to where the
remaining circuits are and whether SIP is still the logical choice for those looking to transition
We have been talking
about SIP as the
preferred connection
over ISDN for several
years, just three years ago SIP
trunks overtook ISDN lines
driven mainly by costs and the
planned ISDN switch o. From
this year new ISDN orders will
start to be reduced as the push
towards IP voice accelerates.
What does this mean for those
channel businesses for the next
ve years?
Paul Wakeeld, SIP
Trunking Product Manager
at Gamma said “e fact that
2020 marks the start of the year
where new orders for ISDN will
no longer be taken ahead of
the 2025 ISDN cut o point,
simply acts as another reminder
of the inevitable move towards
ISDN switch o in 2025. It will
provide an opportunity for the
industry to continue to push the
message of customers having to
do something. is has always
been a case of when, not if!”
Wakeeld continued,
“Generally, customers will see a
catalyst for change within their
business. For example their
PBX falls over, the business
is growing or they need tor
e-locate, and that point, it is
ensuring the story of SIP is
in the customer’s mind, to
ensure they make the most
informed choice around voice
connectivity.A stop sell will
certainly aid that conversation
and we would anticipate an
increase in new connections on
Paul Wakeeld, SIP Trunking Product Manager - Gamma
that basis, but within known
market trends.
We have already seen
considerable growth in SIP
over the last 10 years, with the
last 3-4 in particular showing
a signicant move away from
legacy technologies onto new IP
infrastructure. Indications are
that the market growth is now
slowing slightly, but against a
backdrop of us reaching close
to 70% penetration of SIP
against the addressable ISDN
market, which is forecast to be
83% by the time we get to 2024
when “forced migrations” are
indicated to happen, (according
to BT Openreach). However,
this still leaves around one
million channels to transition -
a signicant opportunity!”
Graham Wilkinson, Head
of Sales, Beyond Connectivity
at Nimans says, “SIP has
become the natural extension
from ISDN and is a hybrid
steppingstone into a full
cloud proposition. It enables
customers to stay abreast and
take advantage of the latest
technologies such as Fibre To
e Premise, leased lines, data
and IP Telephony. It brings
people into a new world of
connected communications.
Obviously as we get closer
to the 2025 switch o then
momentum will continue to
build. Equally in the current
climate of the coronavirus,
SIP is ideally suited to enable
business continuity and greater
working exibilities.”
Mark Whitehead, UK
Managing Director at
VoIPCloud Wholesale
commented “Businesses are
Graham Wilkinson, Head of Sales, Beyond Connectivity - Nimans
30 | Comms Business Magazine | May 2020 www.commsbusiness.co.uk
/www.commsbusiness.co.uk