As the planned closure of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) approaches in the UK, businesses are looking for innovative solutions to ensure uninterrupted and efficient communications.
Among the transformative technologies on the horizon, 5G stands out as a potential game changer. This article delves into his analysis of the UK’s current 5G connectivity and availability ahead of the PSTN outage and explores the implications for business communications.
Current status of 5G connectivity
The PSTN switch-off represents a major change in the communications landscape, requiring businesses and organizations to adapt their communications systems to the new digital era.
According to Vodafone, more than half (53%) of UK adults already believe 5G has the potential to improve their daily lives. 5G-enabled technology is having a major impact on many sectors of society, supporting the government’s ambitions to drive digital transformation and create jobs.
To assess the readiness of the UK’s communications infrastructure, we ranked key towns and cities based on the availability of 5G from the country’s four main telephone networks (EE, Three, Vodafone and O2). We analyzed 5G connectivity for UK businesses.
Analysis reveals that only 51% of the UK’s major towns and cities currently have full 5G coverage from all UK networks, indicating that rollout progress is relatively slow. I am.
This will leave many regions with limited or no 5G connectivity, requiring a closer look at the potential impact on your business.
Best regions for 5G deployment
Our analysis further highlights the regions with the best 5G connectivity in the UK, providing valuable insight for businesses looking to expand or start-ups seeking the best network support for their digital operations. We provide.
London (score 96/100), Yorkshire (86/100) and East Midlands (85/100) emerge as the key regions with the highest scores for business 5G connectivity. These areas are well-equipped to provide reliable, high-speed 5G services, providing opportunities for businesses to grow in the digital age.
However, the picture is not so rosy in all regions, with Scotland (52/100), Wales (65/100) and the South West (69/100) having the least uptake of 5G services in the UK. This disparity highlights the need for businesses in these regions to carefully strategize their communication plans to remain competitive in a changing landscape.
Impact on business communication
5G integration is becoming a necessity for businesses looking to maintain seamless communication channels.
5G does not replace existing networks, but provides faster and more reliable connectivity as an additional or alternative layer. Cloud-based phone systems and internet tools with VoIP are the best alternative after the mass switch-off in 2025, and 5G will be extremely beneficial for businesses that embrace this evolution.
5G’s ability to support enhanced communications solutions opens new avenues for business
5G’s ability to support enhanced communications solutions opens new avenues for businesses to enhance operations and improve overall efficiency. His potential for 5G as a critical lifeline is clear, and his three key benefits for businesses are:
Faster speeds: One of the most important benefits of 5G is its ultra-fast speeds. With data transfer speeds several times faster than 4G, businesses can experience real-time communications, fast file transfers, and smooth video conferencing. This speed increase ensures a faster decision-making process and a better customer experience.
Increased flexibility: 5G’s increased flexibility will enable businesses to implement agile communication strategies. Remote working, a popular trend in modern industries, is made more efficient by 5G connectivity. Employees can stay connected and collaborate seamlessly regardless of their location, allowing businesses to tap into a diverse talent pool.
Seamless integration of internet-connected devices: The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming increasingly integral to business operations. 5G’s ability to accommodate many interconnected devices without compromising performance ensures smooth IoT integration. This allows companies to optimize processes, improve automation, and drive innovation.
new communication strategy
According to PwC, the economic impact of new uses of 5G in utilities, health and social care, consumer, media and finance will be worth £43bn to UK GDP by 2030. .
As the clock ticks towards PSTN outage in 2025, businesses must aggressively embrace 5G as a key part of their communications strategy. While concerns about the discontinuation of traditional phone services are understandable, the focus on 5G offers a promising solution with future availability.
Telecommunications industry leaders are urging businesses to closely monitor the ongoing 5G rollout and consider its potential impact by offering promising solutions.
Companies looking to transform their services and become more digitally agile for years to come should take advantage of this opportunity and position themselves for continued success.
This article was written and contributed by Damian Hanson, Co-Founder and Director of CircleLoop.
