Short answer
For most businesses, yes. Copper PRI and BRI (ISDN) lines run on infrastructure that is end-of-life across South Africa, and spares, replacement timelines and support are getting harder to secure. FirstNet SIP Trunks give you more channels, better quality and a backup option that a copper line cannot match.
In detail
How a copper-to-SIP move works:
- If your PBX is SIP-compliant, it connects to the trunk directly.
- If it only has digital (TDM) interfaces, a media gateway converts PRI, BRI or analogue lines to SIP.
- Part of the old estate can run alongside during migration, using a hybrid-coexistence design.
- Your existing numbers are ported to FirstNet using a signed Letter of Authority.
- Numbers bundled with copper or ADSL services may need that service terminated or migrated first.
FirstNet follows a five-phase journey (prepare, plan, provision, pilot and production), with test calls and backup failover tests before the final cutover. If your PBX is also nearing end of life, you can move to FirstNet Managed Cloud PBX on the same trunk, either now or later. FirstNet connectivity customers also get a free backup SIP trunk with automatic failover.
Source: FirstNet Business Voice Minutes service page →
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