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UPS Devices & How they can Help You Prepare for the PSTN Switch Off

The 2025 PSTN switch off poses a number of opportunities and challenges for the Channel. Read on to discover our Technical Solutions Director, Muhammad Bajwa’s thoughts on how our new range of UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) can help you prepare for the big switch off.

In my last blog post, I covered some benefits of introducing VoIP and Ofcom’s regulations around the PSTN switch off and their expectations from Service providers. Having just launched a new range of UPS devices, I will now cover how we can help you to fulfil the regulatory requirements and provide backup power to devices on site.

Requirements

Having spoken to a number of partners about their requirements, some were quite basic, such as; the UPS needs to be reliable but economical, it should be maintenance free but must have a replaceable battery. The device should have 3 pin UK plugs to connect the power supply straight into it and ideally should allow some basic troubleshooting to check the battery status etc.

Our Solution

I have looked at a couple of brands but decided to go for Blue Walker Line Interactive UPS range as our go to product for the Channel. We have initially chosen three products from the range based on how much backup battery power it will provide to a router and a phone/ATA.

Testing

During my lab testing, the VI 650 SB lasted just over an hour, the VI 600 STL just over 2 hours and the VI 2200 STL lasted around 4 hours. The test devices in my lab were a DrayTek 2862Ln and a Yealink T57W with maximum load being around 25W on the UPS. Being Line interactive, the transfer rate was very quick (around 4ms) which means I did not notice any loss of power and my devices kept operating normally when the UPS was disconnected from the mains power.

 

Model:

Basic VI 650 SB UK

Basic VI 600 STL UK

Basic VI 2200 STL UK

Series:

VI SB

VI STL

VS STL

Type:

Line-Interactive (VI)

Line-Interactive (VI)

Line-Interactive (VI)

Phases (IN-OUT):

1-1

1-1

1-1

Form Factor:

Tower

Tower

Tower

Power Capacity:

650VA / 360W

600VA / 360W

2200VA / 1320W

Output Power:

0.55

0.60

0.60

Nominal Output Voltage:

230 VAC

230 VAC

230 VAC

Frequency (Battery Mode):

±0.05Hz

±0.05Hz

±0.05Hz

Type G (BS 1363):

2

3

4

LINE Mode Efficiency [%] (Full Load):

95.3

95.3

95.7

Batteries:

1x 12.0V/5.0Ah

1x 12.0V/7.0Ah

2×12.0V/9.0Ah

Recharge Time:

8h to 90%

8h to 90%

8h to 90%

Half Load Backup Time [min]:

4.5

5.0

3.9

Communication:

USB Type B – for Monitoring Software

USB Type B – for Monitoring Software

USB Type B – for Monitoring Software

Noise Level:

< 30dB

< 30dB

< 45dB

Fan Logic:

No fan

No fan

Always on (half speed) full speed if load > 25% in battery mode

IP Rating:

IP20

IP20

IP20

Humidity:

0% – 90% RH (non-condensing)

0% – 90% RH (non-condensing)

0% – 90% RH (non-condensing)

Product Weight [kg]

3.9

4.3

10.8

Data Line Protection:

N/A

N/A

RJ-11 Port, RJ-45 Port (100mbit)

Discover ProVu’s UPS Range

Battery Life

An important question I have already been asked a few times is how long the battery will last on these devices. To be honest, this really does depend on a few factors, namely:

  • The use case
  • Environmental factors
  • How well the device has been maintained

The typical life span of a UPS is around 3-5 years from the production date. PowerWalker offer a 2-year warranty on their products which covers both hardware and the battery. Ofcom expects the providers of the solution to have a maintenance plan in place to make sure the products can continue to work on an ongoing basis. That said, the end customer will have to take some responsibility for this. In this instance, it is recommended that the documentation provided clearly outlines what is required by the end user.

In my next blog post, I will be talking about PowerMaster’s software, its features and how it can help to remotely monitor and troubleshoot potential issues with deployed UPS devices.

What the PSTN switch off means to the Telco World 

As we edge closer to the 2025 PSTN switch off our Technical Solutions Director, Muhammad Bajwa has been sharing his thoughts about these changes and the affect it’s likely to have on Channel partners in the coming years. Find out more in this short blog.

BT announced the PSTN switch off back in 2015 and gave the channel 10 years to move everyone to a digital or Voice over IP network. There has been lots of conversation in the channel for the past 7+ years, but only now I can see things have started to take off.  Talking to businesses, some of the issues I tend to hear a lot about are along the lives of;

‘my customer does not have a stable internet connection’;

‘they are miles away from exchange so cannot get the right speed for VoIP’

‘they have been sold a traditional telephone system on 5–10-year lease so they cannot make any changes’

The list goes on….

Many of these conversations have not been easy, but with the expansion of Fibre and 4G/5G networks, the availability of Satellite Internet, and funding by the government it seems the Channel is now gearing up for the change.

A Shift in the Channel…

One major change I have seen in Telecoms is in the Internet Service Provider channel. Historically ISP’s or Broadband providers kept their distance from VoIP and/or UC services, but this year most of the conversations I have had have been with new ISP customers who have been trying to adopt/integrate VoIP services with their broadband offering. Consequently, we are seeing a huge surge in demand for VoIP enabled routers and/or Analogue adaptors. One of the biggest challenges facing the channel now is our reliance of the internet, without this, there is no voice or telephone service.

Before I discuss the challenges of offering VoIP, let’s have a look at some of the benefits of introducing VoIP to a business.

Benefits of VoIP

Lower costs: As VoIP relies on your internet service, businesses will be able to benefit from reduced/freeline rental. The reason I say “reduced line rent” is because VoIP Providers will still have to manage the servers which are providing the VoIP services.

Portability: VoIP numbers are portable unlike physical numbers so it can move between different networks just like mobile numbers. If a business moves from one location to another, there is no need to ring the provider, all you must do is take the VoIP device to your new location, connect it to the internet and your line is up a running in no time. Some VoIP providers even have their own mobile or PC softphone clients which means you can answer your calls anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection and the country you are in allows VoIP or SIP calls.

No PBX hardware on site: With traditional telephone systems, businesses would have some form of PBX (telephone system hardware) onsite which comes with its own maintenance and support services plus it’s one more thing that can break!  With VoIP it’s all hosted and depending on the type of service offering, you don’t have to worry about any of that. The majority of service providers will have clusters or high availability systems setup so disruption to VoIP services will be minimum.

Scalability: It’s very easy to scale with a VoIP telephone system, businesses can buy additional seats/VoIP channel from the provider which can be done on the fly which means as long as you have a compatible device, a new user can be setup in minutes.

Competition: The VoIP side of Telecom industry is already quite a competitive market which means businesses will have a broad range of providers to choose from. More competition means a more competitive offering.

Feature Rich: VoIP in general is far more feature rich as compared to the traditional telephony services. Things like call transfer, nuisance calls blocker, call forwarding, etc. are much easier to manage. There are of course other benefits like integration with CRMS systems, options to use UC features but it’s up to the business to buy the service best suited for their requirement.

VoIP Challenges

Now, as I mentioned, VoIP brings many benefits to a business, but it does rely on the internet which requires a power connection. Skimping on hardware such as routers can also cause some headaches, but I won’t go into that for now.

Since 2015, Ofcom has been actively involved in discussions with ISP’s, ITSP’s and other bodies in formulising a standard to regularise the side effects which the PSTN switch off will introduce. These have been developed to protect the consumer. Ofcom withdrew their previous 2011 guidance on FTTP as part of the strategic review of digital communications and published its reviewed guidance in Oct 2018 which included the PSTN switch off.

According to the final publication of Ofcom, service providers should enable or offer at least one backup solution to the customer in order to provide access to emergency services in case of power cut. During the discussion there were 2 main solutions discussed, one being a backup mobile phone and other one being a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). Ofcom’s regulation is not too prescriptive about which options service providers should offer, but the main highlight is that the offered solution should last for a minimum of one hour in the case of a power cut.

It is the Service Provider’s duty to make sure that the offered solution is suitable to meet the customers’ requirement. Ideally, the backup should be offered FOC especially to customers who are dependent on their landlines.

Ofcom’s publication also mentioned that some individual customers might require protection beyond one hour e.g., if the household they live in has a history of long duration power outages etc. so it is important to understand the customer’s requirements before offering a solution.

Read Ofcom’s Publication Here

In my next blog, I will be discussing options available from ProVu to tackle the power cut issues and how we can help fulfil the regulatory requirements of Ofcom.

Take a Virtual Tour with 2N

With lock down easing in most of the country, companies are looking to adapt to this new normal with innovative ways to display and present their products. One such company has turned to the digital space and created something truly amazing, the 2N virtual experience.

What is it…

The 2N virtual experience is exactly what it says on the tin, a virtual experience that showcases 2N products in situ for customers to explore. With 3 unique experiences to choose from; apartment building, single house and commercial building, viewers are able to explore a 3D environment allowing viewers to see a plethora of 2N products doing what they do best.

Explore the 3D environment based on your preferred experience and select a start point from the blue bar at the bottom of the screen. Or, if you prefer, select your start point and use the arrows to move around the virtual space to discover 2N products.

2N products

With many 2N products featured, it is easy to get lost. That’s why selecting your preferred start location from the bottom blue bar, allows you to easily find the area you wish to explore. To help you better visualise how to deploy 2N solutions.

With the ability to assemble and dissemble products in the virtual environment. You are able to see how to install the solutions as well as how to assemble the housing units. As it is a 3D space, you are able to rotate the camera 360° for a better angle of all of the 2N products on display, helping you to choose the best solution for your needs.

What’s more, when you come across a 2N product you wish to see more of, orange points of interest are displayed to tell you what each part of the solution is as well as being a link to the webpage of the product. And if are wanting the technical documents for a 2N product, there is a handy documents button in the lower right which takes you to the technical specifications as well as other useful information.

Experience for yourself

The 2N Virtual Experience is really something special. It innovates and adapts to current situations and offers a unique user experience that while it is a business tool to demonstrate 2N solutions, it is also fun to explore and experience a new way to view products. Try the 2N virtual experience for yourself.

Explore the 2N virtual experience

Adjusting to the ‘New Normal’ with 2N

As we all look for new ways to adapt to the ‘new normal’, cleanliness is going to remain at the forefront of our minds for some time to come. 2N have put together some new videos to illustrate how users can continue to benefit from their products while maintaining optimal safety.

With a protection rating of IP69K 2N’s IP Force intercom can be exposed to even the harshest environments and cleaning products. See their latest video to see how this robust intercom can be thoroughly cleansed.

A pain point for many touchscreens is the difficulty using them when wearing gloves. 2N’s IP Verso and Indoor Touch can be easily used when wearing gloves. See the incredible responsiveness in 2N’s short video clip.

Discover the 2N range


Contactless Entry

2N also offer a contactless solution with their Bluetooth module. Both the IP Verso and the Access units can be adapted to create a contactless solution. Simply add in the Bluetooth module to enable staff to access your buildings through their smart phones or tables with the 2N® Mobile Key application. 2N Bluetooth modules for contactless entry

Get in touch to find out more

Expand your offering

Thermal cameras have become a hot topic over the past few months, but the reliability of these have been deemed unreliable by the MHRA. Our sister company, Alliot Technologies is the UK’s exclusive distributor of the Kentix SmartXcan body temperature sensor. Unlike other devices on the market, this smart device uses sensors to provide a core temperature reading via the eyes as well as the forehead. Compliant with the IEC80601-2-59 regulation for medical use, this sensor can be simply integrated with 2N systems to enable/restrict access based on the temperature reading.

Kentix SmartXcan available from Alliot Technologies

Find out more on Alliot’s website

To speak with a member of our Sales Team please call 01484 840048 or email contact@provu.co.uk.

3CXcape your office

Working remotely with 3CX

As thousands of employees across the globe connect remotely to their work place every day, the current climate has enlightened employers and employees to the capabilities of remote working, or what I prefer to call them, Digital Nomads. The ability to work remotely is no longer a nice-to-have but rather a must-have for any business communication strategy. We’re here to help support you in developing the right solution for your partners and their businesses.

The world is now more connected than ever with the introduction of virtual work spaces and social media. Consequently many businesses are now looking towards solutions to allow employees to work productively from home. With 3CX’s Unified Communications tools, you too can guarantee day-to-day operations can continue to be met, even out of office.

Unified Comms

To maintain operations, users need to access all the same data as they would being in the office. By unifying phone calls, video conferencing, SMS, email and Live Chat, users of 3CX can share and access data from one centralised location, enabling teams to collaborate in real time. Regardless of your company size, 3CX’s unified comms solution helps to improve collaboration, boost productivity, increase mobility and enhance the customer experience.

With 3CX, users are able to access the following features as standard.

  • See the status of your colleagues
  • Instant chat
  • Live website chat
  • Web client
  • Smart phone apps
  • Web conferencing (number of seats available dependent on license type)

Interoperability

In addition to utilising 3CX as a softphone, the solution allows for a broad range of interoperable products such as; Snom, Fanvil, Yealink, EPOS/Sennheiser. Allowing users to be able to make use of phone systems and its features on their preferred device, which of course can still be used in a home office.

With support for integration with many of the world’s leading platforms and CRM systems including MS Exchange, Salesforce, Microsoft Outlook, Office 365 and Zendesk, 3CX can also link inbound calls with customer records to maximise agent productivity.

Why 3CX?

So why are we championing 3CX as our remote working solution? 3CX offers a solution that will keep everyone connected to employees and clients no matter where they are. Not only can you get a full-featured web conferencing solution, but a system that is reliable.

3CX offer a robust solution and have recently addressed a common issue that is present in most webRTC-based products which caused problems with headsets and audio.

To find out more and for advice on how to utilise 3CX’s remote workspace, speak to one of our 3CX experts today.

Stay up to date with how you can benefit from remote working by liking, following and subscribing to our social media.

Meet ProVu at the UK’s biggest Service Provider Event

We’re excited to be silver sponsors at this year’s Cloud Comms Summit! Taking place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London on Thursday 5th March, the Cloud Comms Summit is one of Europe’s biggest Service Provider events.

With over 350 delegates expected to attend visitors can expect an insightful day of networking and learning amongst thought-leaders, experts and peers alike. With a number of key themes, this year’s event sets out to provide key insights into:

  • Competition reimagined – where to partner or compete?
  • Future of customer engagement
  • The changing workplace
  • The role of the Service Provider in the new world
  • Future of technology
  • Cloud Networking

Throughout the day there’ll be a brand new series of 10-minute Tech Talks, along with a series of panel sessions and presentations to get involved in. As part of this, our MD, Darren Garland will be joining the ‘Reimagined Supply Chain’ Panel where he’ll be sharing his ideas on what the supply chain looks like today and how partnering with the correct suppliers can add value to your business.

We’re looking forward to meeting with delegates and fellow exhibitors at the event. To arrange a meeting please email contact@provu.co.uk.

2N’s Verso is Crowned Winner in 2018 CEDIA Awards


The 2N IP Verso was recently awarded the ‘Best New Hardware Product EMEA’ by CEDIA. Renowned in the home automation sector, the CEDIA awards program recognises technical excellence, product innovation and individual professionals succeding in the home technology sector.

With a wide variety of modules available, the IP Verso offers a flexible solution that can be adapted to suit any commercial or residential application. Thanks to the Verso, users no longer have to work with standard one-size-fits-all products and can now custom their IP intercom/access control units through its modular design – it’s a solution we believe is throughly deserving of this prestigious award, congratulations to the 2N team!

Discover the 2N IP Verso

Yealink Awarded Growth Excellence Leadership Award

Yealink was recently awarded the 2018 Global Growth Excellence Leadership award by growth consultancy firm, Frost & Sullivan. Recognised for their position in the market, the award acknowledges Yealink’s sustainable strategy to achieve exponential growth from its compelling product range, competitive pricing and an excellent level of customer service.

We would like to wish Yealink a huge congratulations on achieving this award!

IPv6 in an Office – Tim Presents at UKNOF40

Our Technology Director, Tim Bray presented at UKNOF40 last week. Taking place at Manchester’s Central Convention Complex on Friday 27th April, the event was a free full-day conference for anyone within or interested in the internet industry.

As the person responsible for our system developments, Tim knows a lot about internet security and regularly consults our vendor partners on their provisioning services. Find out what he had to say in his presentation, ‘IPv6 in an Office’ in the video below.