SoGEA Small Business Guide
It may not come as a surprise that landline usage has declined. In, 2015 BT Openreach announced that they plan to turn off all PSTN and ISDN services and switch to a fully IP-based telephony network by 2025. The change-over means receiving broadband will no longer require the installation of a phone line to support the service.
Understanding SoGEA
SoGEA is a meaningful change for small businesses seeking reliable and high-speed internet connectivity. Its the next-generation connectivity solution. It promises quicker and easier installation, faster connection speeds, increased reliability, and reduced cost. It’s available right now from most BT exchanges.
What are the key features and benefits?
- Quicker, more accessible, faster, reliable, and cost-effective.
- Easier ordering and quicker installation. BT Openreach claims SoGEA will be 50% quicker to install than regular broadband.
- Faster speeds compared with FTTC. Download speeds of 330mbps with upload of 50mbps.
- It's cheaper. The combined cost of landline and broadband is more expensive, so your monthly cost should be lower.
- Quicker fault resolutions. There's no PSTN line, so with SoGEA, you only have one supplier, meaning just one call to fix an issue.
- More reliable connections. Call traffic cannot interfere with the integrity of the service, so you will get better overall performance and more efficient service.
Are there any downsides to SoGEA?
The only drawback to this new service is that SoGEA users will no longer have access to a landline phone number. And wont be able to connect a traditional phone to the BT Socket. Therefore, you must adopt VOIP to make and receive phone calls if you want a main telephone number.
Can I get SoGEA now?
For any business with an FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) connection delivered over a standard PSTN landline, now is a suitable time to consider moving to SoGEA to avoid disconnection.
SoGEA is currently available to most BT exchanges. If youd like to find out if your business can access SoGEA now, contact your FOS.net account manager today.
Further reading https://www.btwholesale.com/assets/documents/sales-tools/insights-and-articles/sogea/btw-sogea-datasheet.pdf