The End of Traditional Landline Telephone Services is Right Around the Corner

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Feb. 6, 2024 - PRLog -- AT&T customers across California were notified by the CPUC about AT&T's request to end burdens associated with a Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) and its ETC status. AT&T submitted these requests back in March, 2023, although a number of customers are only now aware of the risk to their landline service.

California requires telecommunications companies to provide traditional copper line phone service, called Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), to safeguard connectivity often in less populated areas. AT&T's petition seeks to eliminate these obligations, allowing the company to discontinue altogether copper-line POTS phone services in regions if there are alternative phone options. AT&T has showed a decline in demand for telephone services delivered through their copper networks and a commitment to enhancing their network with advanced, high-speed IP technologies, such as fiber and wireless.

Consumers will be forced to decide whether to abandon their landlines or potentially face higher costs because of complex and expensive solutions offered by phone companies.

Likewise, businesses all over have experienced a surge in prices for a PRI (Primary Rate Interface) circuit and traditional copper-based business lines.
Telecommunication companies have strongly recommended customers adopt all-IP-based services like SIP trunking and cloud-based services. This strategic shift aligns with an industry trend observed in other major players, like Windstream, Verizon and Lumen, who are geographically phasing out copper-line services.
To read about some of the cost increase for PRI circuits: https://www.pbxmechanic.com/pri-circuits-increased-costs....