This blog post will explain what the PSTN shutoff is. The PSTN will be replaced by VoIP solutions. VoIP solutions will be powered by the SIP protocol. The SIP protocol allows for more efficient call routing. The transition to VoIP from the public switched telephone network will be a significant event in the history of telecommunications. Many countries are phasing out traditional phone lines and are starting to use VoIP solutions. Some countries have already made a complete switch from the PSTN to VoIP. There are good reasons for the PSTN shutoff. PSTN maintenance is costly, and the technology is hard to work with. Services the PSTN cannot provide can be provided by a VoIP provider. The equipment of old will be replaced by more complex but efficient telecommunications services. Businesses that are slowly switching away from the PSTN will have little warning before their service is terminated. Businesses relying on the PSTN will have to start using digital solutions. The PSTN has enabled local, long distance, and international calling since the late 1800s. The PSTN was designed for a time where there were fixed locations and limited scalability in choosing service and phone numbers. VoIP allows for a lot more scalability and flexibility in choosing services without the physical limitations of the PSTN. It is a cost-effective solution that reduces charges for long distance and international calls. Less money is spent on expensive infrastructure needed for connectivity to the PSTN. Legacy equipment such as point-of-sale systems, fax machines, analog phones, and alarm systems are incompatible with VoIP unless it is connected to an appropriate gateway. The gateway would have to convert the traffic coming from the analog device and convert it to SIP traffic. For example, an FXS gateway could be used to connect analog phones to VoIP services. The FXS gateway converts an analog phones signal to an SIP signal.