Introduction Openreach has announced the withdrawal of WLR, which means the traditional delivery of voice and other services across the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) will come to an end. A stop sell of these services will take effect from 2023 and complete withdrawal by December 2025. The withdrawal of the PSTN significantly changes how broadband is delivered, i.e. the broadband service will no longer require a WLR service, but rather the broadband service becomes the underlying technology to deliver data and over the top IP services such as Voice over IP (VoIP), enabling the transition to a true digital IP solution. 

These new data only, broadband products will replace the traditional broadband (based on PSTN service) and are referred to as Single Order Broadband which consist of : > FTTP > SOGFAST > SOGEA > SOTAP Single Order GEA (SOGEA) and SOGFAST are new broadband packages which uses the same technology as GEA FTTC (Fibre-to-the-Cabinet VDSL or GFAST (for Ultrafast speeds)) with the exception that it does not share the line with a WLR service (the PSTN network isn’t enabled for the line). SOGEA and SOGFAST offers the same data rates, performance, and VDSL technology as FTTC and GFAST, is available in the same geographic areas as FTTC/GFAST, and with the additional benefit of being a true all IP solution broadband service to meet the demands and reliance for todays and future

The advancement of fibre technology allows better stability and increased bandwidth. With over 28 million (FTTC enabled) premises and growing, users are now benefitting from greater asymmetrical speeds over the existing fixed yet shared broadband infrastructure. The availability and growth of smart technologies such as smart energy monitoring/thermostat devices, IP surveillance systems, and smart lighting (to name a few) all rely on data delivered over reliable broadband service. Businesses can benefit too, working smartly by adopting solutions such as cloud-based applications enable businesses to improve productivity and efficiency. It can also deliver high-quality voice via VoIP services. All these IP based solutions services require a connectivity solution which offers speed and stability for real-time data and Quality of Service (QoS) features.