Home / Resources / POTS Replacement
Connectivity & Infrastructure

POTS Replacement:
The Complete Guide

Copper landlines are being shut down. AT&T begins decommissioning in June 2026. If your business depends on analog lines for phones, alarms, elevators, or fax — you need a plan now.

⚠ AT&T Copper Shutdown begins June 2026. As of October 2025, AT&T stopped accepting new copper orders in 19 states. Businesses now have as little as 90 days notice before their lines go dark. Don’t wait for the letter.

What is POTS & what’s at risk?

POTS stands for Plain Old Telephone Service — the traditional copper landline network that has powered business communications for decades. It also powers critical infrastructure that most businesses don’t think about until it stops working.

Systems that depend on copper lines:

  • ⚠ Fire alarm panels & monitoring systems
  • ⚠ Elevator emergency phones
  • ⚠ Security alarm dialers
  • ⚠ Fax machines & analog modems
  • ⚠ POS terminal backup lines
  • ⚠ Gate access & entry systems

Why is this happening now?

The FCC has been streamlining copper retirement rules since 2019, and in March 2025 accelerated the process significantly — reducing notice requirements from 180 days to just 90 days and removing requirements for carriers to offer standalone voice alternatives.

AT&T spends nearly $6 billion annually maintaining its aging copper network for fewer than 3% of customers. The financial math is clear — copper is going away, and it’s going away fast.

Some businesses are seeing POTS line costs spike to $2,700+ per line per month as carriers use price pressure to force migration.

Replacement Options

VoIP / SIP Trunking

Voice over IP replaces analog phone lines with internet-based calling. Includes advanced features like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and auto-attendant.

Best for: Business phone systems

Cellular LTE/5G Replacement

Cellular-based POTS replacement devices plug directly into existing analog equipment — fire panels, elevators, alarms — with no changes to your existing systems.

Best for: Life-safety & alarm systems

Fixed Wireless / Fiber

For businesses needing a full infrastructure upgrade, transitioning to fiber or fixed wireless broadband with a cloud voice solution provides long-term stability and scalability.

Best for: Full business modernization

Business Connectivity Carrier Comparison

Compare your options for replacing POTS with modern business internet and voice solutions. Pricing varies by location — contact us for a local quote.

Carrier Technology Speeds Est. Monthly Contract Voice Included Best For
Comcast Business Cable / Fiber 25 Mbps–10 Gbps $70–$500+ 12–36 mo ✓ Add-on Urban / Suburban
Cox Business Cable / Fiber 50 Mbps–1 Gbps $70–$400+ 12–24 mo ✓ Add-on Gulf Coast / SE US
AT&T Business Fiber / 5G 100 Mbps–5 Gbps $80–$600+ 12–36 mo ✓ Add-on Wide availability
T-Mobile Business 5G Fixed Wireless 33–300+ Mbps $50–$250 No contract ✕ Separate Remote / no cable
Verizon Business Fiber / 5G 100 Mbps–1 Gbps $90–$500+ 12–36 mo ✓ Add-on Metro / enterprise
Spectrum Business Cable 200 Mbps–1 Gbps $65–$350+ No contract ✓ Add-on Flexible contracts
Frontier Business Fiber 200 Mbps–2 Gbps $70–$400+ 12–24 mo ✓ Add-on Fiber-heavy markets
Lumen / CenturyLink Fiber / MPLS 10 Mbps–10 Gbps $100–$1,000+ 24–60 mo ✓ Add-on Multi-location enterprise

* Pricing is approximate and location-dependent. Availability varies. Contact DecentralIT for a free local comparison quote.

Ready to get ahead of the copper shutdown?

We’ll audit your current analog lines, identify what’s at risk, and match you with the right replacement solution. Free consultation, no obligation.

→ Book a Free POTS Assessment