We have recently been featured in an article published in the September edition of ISSUU Magazine. As an expert in this field, Vital Trace were approached to talk about the IP switchover and the potential impact on CCTV surveillance systems.
BT recently announced to customers that it will be discontinuing the RS1000 and RS1000D analogue transmission fibre circuits, and while this likely hasn’t come as a surprise to many of those in the industry, the decision will have some ripple effects. There has been plenty of publicity surrounding the forthcoming IP-switchover for alarm services, but CCTV transmission circuits also form part of the UK’s vital surveillance network. BT’s announcement states that as of August 2023 Openreach will retire the ability for BT to deliver the RS1000 and RS1000D CCTV products (their analogue transmission fibre circuits). They note that the on-going review has caused delivery delays and a backlog of work in progressing orders, however they will be taking new orders for RS1000 and RS1000D up until 13th August 2023, with a maximum contract of 12 months. This decision will impact upgrades and pricing, however at time of writing BT have provided no alternative options.
There is also a bigger picture to consider here – the 2025 shut down of copper services announced by BT in 2017, and from September 2023, BT will stop selling new contracts for leased lines. Shaune Pates, Sales Director at Vital Trace, commented: “With no alternatives currently being offered, what should customers do? I suggest that now is the perfect opportunity to find a better deal for a low-cost alternative for secure CCTV transmission with the benefits of flexible contract terms, seamless integration into any VMS and the ability to move cameras at no cost, which is non-viable with fixed line solutions.”
To find out more we spoke to Shaune about the digital switchover and the potential problems that could arise for CCTV installers and their customers…
To read the full article go to page 31: https://issuu.com/proactivpublications/docs/psiseptember2023
