POTS, or plain old telephone service, is an analog signal transmission over copper wires. In the U.S., from 1876 to 1988, POTS was the standard telephone service telecommunication providers offered.
At the time, the communication solution proved reliable and cost-effective for basic communication needs.
However, just as business needs evolve, so have communication needs.
POTS is not cost-effective or as reliable as it once was, and now we have modern solutions that suit the mounting needs of businesses of all sizes.
It’s time to transfer your communication technology to modern solutions.
Analog Communication: POTS Lines
POTS lines use copper wires to establish a dedicated connection between two points (the caller and the receiver) for the transmission period between them.
To transmit the voices, two steps must occur:
- Sound waves (a basic analog signal) are converted into an electrical analog signal (a carrier signal) for copper wires to carry the basic signal properties (voice) to the receiver.
- Just before reaching the receiver, the carrier signal converts back into sound waves, allowing the receiver to hear the caller’s voice and vice versa.
Digital Communication: Analog-to-Digital
Digital communication involves converting an analog signal (a continuous value) into a digital signal (discrete values) without corrupting the original basic signal content (the caller’s voice).
The ADC signal output has defined states (discrete values), ON and OFF or “1” and “0” (binary digits). These digital impulses are well-defined and orderly, transmitting more efficiently than analog signals.
The efficient transmission protects the original basic analog signal from distortion or noise.
Once the analog signal is digitized, digital signal processing systems capture, process, and feed that data to the receiver.
The Benefits of Digital Communication
POTS lines are outdated and not worth their cost anymore.
Disadvantages of POTS lines today include:
- Maintenance and Upgrades Costs – repairs, replacements, etc.
- As of August 2, 2022, most communication carriers phased out POTS line services. Thus, finding copper wires and maintaining them has become even more expensive.
- Equipment (infrastructure) Costs – expanding broadband internet connections requires additional equipment that provides more bandwidth.
- Restricted Scalability – POTS makes it much more difficult and expensive to add more phone lines for today’s fast-growing businesses.
- Poor Sound Quality – analog signals are susceptible to distortion and noise interference.
Switching from POTS lines to digital communication services (e.g., VoIP) will save you money on maintenance, upgrades, and equipment while providing impressive scalability and reliability.
Upgrade Your Communication Channels with CC3!
As a top-performing telecommunications provider, CC3 Solutions can give your business everything it needs for vital and reliable high-functioning connectivity, mobility, and voice service solutions.
As the world continues to digitize, everyone should get ahead of that process, lest they be left in the dust to suffer the consequences of not making the jump sooner.
Contact us today, so you can ensure you stay connected for tomorrow and beyond.