By Steve F., March 10, 2026

Opportunities for MSPs in the PSTN Switch-Off

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued Order 10-72A1, mandating that all traditional POTS lines in the United States be replaced with alternative services by August 2, 2022. (Read the latest updates from the FCC.)

As carriers phase out legacy copper infrastructure, organizations must quickly transition their critical voice and data communications to modern alternatives.

Telecom carriers have little incentive to maintain large-scale PSTN networks due to high operational and maintenance costs. Since the implementation of Order 10-72A1, service fees for legacy PSTN lines have risen sharply. This shift has created significant new business opportunities for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), particularly those offering Unified Communications (UC) and VoIP-based services.

For MSPs, the sunset of PSTN is not merely a regulatory event — it represents a large-scale market transition.

Challenges Facing MSPs in Delivering PSTN Replacement Services

PSTN Replacement Service (also referred to as PSTN Alternative Service) generally means that MSPs use VoIP technology to replace traditional PSTN lines.

While the PSTN switch-off creates new growth opportunities, it also introduces substantial technical and operational challenges. Most MSPs provide bundled communication solutions to enterprise customers. The ability to deliver reliable PSTN replacement services can significantly strengthen competitive positioning — failure to do so may result in losing customers to better-prepared competitors.

Currently, most North American MSPs build cloud-based UC platforms using solutions from providers such as Netsapiens, Metaswitch, and BroadSoft. These platforms rely on SIP protocols to deliver voice services and Hosted PBX solutions, primarily serving day-to-day human voice communication through desktop IP phones.

However, over more than 100 years of development, the PSTN has supported far more than person-to-person voice communication. It has also been widely used in M2M (machine-to-machine) communications and Life-safety and emergency systems

Typical applications include:

• Elevator emergency phones
• Fire and security alarm panels
• Door entry and intercom systems
• Fax machines
• Legacy POS and credit card terminals
• SCADA and industrial control systems

Challenges at the UC Platform

Traditional UC services are optimized for human voice communication. Due to inherent IP network characteristics — such as packet loss, jitter, and latency — they are not naturally suited for supporting fax machines, modems, or alarm panels.

Even elevator phones and call boxes, though voice-based, have emergency communication requirements that demand higher reliability and manageability compared to standard desktop telephony.

Although the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) established standards such as:

• T.38 and T.37 for fax
• V.150 for modem communication

Alarm panels represent another critical PSTN application. In North America, the most widely used alarm communication method is the Contact ID protocol defined in SIA DC-05. Contact ID relies on handshake tones, kiss-off tones, and DTMF signaling with strict timing requirements. For example, DTMF tones must typically maintain 50ms duration with 50ms intervals.

When transmitted over VoIP networks, jitter and packet loss can easily disrupt these timing-sensitive signals, leading to communication failures. Addressing this issue requires packet-loss mitigation and media optimization technologies — such as Vola Networks “POTS Media SBC” solution.

Challenges at the CPE Level

PSTN replacement services for M2M and life-safety applications must provide reliability comparable to the traditional PSTN.

The legacy PSTN offered an independently powered network: TIP/RING lines delivered both signaling and power. Even during local power outages or internet disruptions, PSTN services remained operational.

Therefore, a true PSTN replacement must continue functioning during:

• Local power failures
• Primary broadband outages

This requirement demands purpose-built CPE (Customer Premises Equipment).

Vola Networks provides dedicated POTS CPE models such as:

• PR08-Pro
• LM150
• PR12
• PR18

These all-in-one devices integrate battery backup, cellular routing, and ATA functionality. They provide:

• 24-hour standby operation via built-in rechargeable batteries
• Ethernet and multi-SIM support for redundant connectivity
• Continued operation during power or broadband outages

Device and Service Management Challenges

For standard desktop SIP phones, zero-touch provisioning is typically sufficient for deployment, with limited need for ongoing device-level monitoring.

In contrast, PSTN replacement services for M2M and life-safety systems require:

• 24/7 operational reliability
• Proactive fault detection
• Real-time alerts via email or SMS
• Centralized device and service management

Supply Chain Challenges

Sourcing reliable CPE hardware, media-optimized SBC solutions, and a scalable device management platform is another significant hurdle for many MSPs.

Historically, the market offered two main approaches:

1.Providers such as Granite Telecommunications and Ooma developed proprietary hardware and vertically integrated services. However, their hardware is typically not available for reselling to independent MSPs.

2.Integrators assembled custom hardware boxes combining batteries, cellular routers, and ATAs. While flexible, these solutions often suffer from high cost, limited reliability, poor maintainability, and compliance concerns.

Vola Networks positions itself as an independent hardware supplier. PR12 and PR18 are all-in-one devices integrate battery backup, cellular routing, and ATA functionality. Notably, the PR18 supports 5G RedCap and features an IP65-rated enclosure suitable for outdoor installation. MSPs can procure all required CPE hardware and backend management solutions from a single source, without competing against the vendor for end customers.

Cellular Connectivity and SIM Integration

POTS replacement devices commonly rely on cellular wireless as an internet backup path, requiring SIM card provisioning.

Many MSPs lack deep experience with SIM management. Vola Networks supports SIM cards from major U.S. carriers:

• AT&T
• Verizon
• T-Mobile

In addition, Vola has established strategic partnerships with MVNOs such as:

• Tango Networks
• DataBlaze

Platform Integration and Open Architecture

VolaCloud is built on the TR-069 protocol and supports REST APIs, enabling seamless integration with existing MSP business systems.

Complementary components — including the POTS Media SBC, fax servers, and IP Communicator Server — can also integrate smoothly into existing service infrastructures.

VolaCloud

Because Vola Networks operates strictly as a hardware and infrastructure supplier and does not provide retail POTS services to end customers, MSPs can confidently build and expand their PSTN replacement offerings without channel conflict concerns.

About Vola Networks

Vola Networks, a US-based high-quality equipment provider, offering POTS replacement solution tailored specifically for MSPs.

Vola POTS service package including innovative CPE with a battery and 4G for internet backup, an SBC supporting V.150/V.152/FEC/T.38/T.37/C-ID, and the VolaCloud for managing all devices.

By leveraging reliable hardware and advanced POTS media SBC, Vola addresses unique challenges associated with essential POTS applications, including Alarms, Elevator Phones, Fax, and Modem Communications, providing outstanding stability and dependability in the unpredictable network environment.