As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, one outdated service remains a persistent drain on business budgets nationwide: POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines. While they may have once been the backbone of business communications, POTS lines are now a high-cost liability in a modern IT environment.
At GCG, we’re seeing more and more organizations overpaying for this aging infrastructure, sometimes unknowingly. If you’re still relying on analog lines for alarms, elevators, fax machines, or voice services, this blog is your wake-up call. Here’s why POTS lines are becoming more expensive, what it means for your bottom line, and how we can help you transition to smarter, more cost-effective solutions.
The Rising Cost of POTS Lines
Over the last few years, telecom carriers have dramatically increased the cost of analog phone lines. In some regions, the monthly price of a single POTS line has surged past $100–$150 per line, and that doesn’t include fees, taxes, or maintenance costs.
Why the spike?
- Aging Infrastructure: Copper-based networks are expensive to maintain, and most carriers have shifted investment toward fiber and VoIP technologies.
- FCC Order 19-72A1: In 2019, the FCC granted permission for carriers to sunset traditional copper lines and raise prices without regulation. This effectively removed pricing controls and service obligations for legacy systems.
- Carrier Incentives: Major providers are actively encouraging customers to move away from POTS — and are using pricing as a pressure tactic.
As a result, businesses that have been “set it and forget it” with their voice infrastructure are now facing skyrocketing monthly bills for outdated services.
Businesses Are Being Overcharged
Many companies aren’t even aware of how many POTS lines they still have active — let alone how much they’re paying for them. It’s not uncommon for us to uncover:
- Dozens of unused or redundant lines
- No contract pricing, leading to premium rates
- Hidden fees for features no longer in use
- Minimal support or service disruptions from providers phasing out analog
This is especially true in industries like retail, healthcare, manufacturing, property management, and financial services, where legacy devices (alarm panels, fire systems, elevator phones) still rely on analog connections.
The Solution: Modern POTS Replacement Technologies
Fortunately, businesses don’t have to stay stuck with rising analog costs. Modern POTS replacement solutions offer a simple, scalable, and compliant alternative — often at a fraction of the cost.
Here’s what a good replacement strategy looks like:
- LTE or VoIP-based adapters that convert analog signals to digital, keeping your existing devices online
- Redundancy and backup power, ensuring critical services like alarms or elevator phones remain operational during outages
- Compliance with fire and safety regulations, especially NFPA and UL standards
- Centralized management and reporting for multi-site operations
By migrating from POTS to digital alternatives, businesses can see savings of 30–60% — while gaining more control and visibility over their voice infrastructure.
How GCG Helps Businesses Navigate the Transition
At GCG, we’ve helped hundreds of organizations audit, optimize, and replace costly POTS lines with smarter, future-ready alternatives.
Here’s how we do it:
1. POTS Line Audit
We start with a comprehensive line inventory and usage analysis to identify every analog connection and what it’s supporting. Many clients are shocked to discover they’re still paying for lines that haven’t been used in years.
2. Cost and Risk Assessment
We evaluate the true cost of maintaining your POTS lines, factoring in both direct costs and operational risks (e.g., system outages, compliance exposure).
3. Solution Design
We recommend and source the right POTS replacement solution, tailored to your environment — whether it’s wireless LTE, VoIP, SIP trunking, or a hybrid approach.
4. Implementation Support
Our team ensures a smooth transition from analog to digital, coordinating with your facilities, fire panel vendors, and carriers to minimize downtime and disruption.
5. Ongoing Optimization
We continue to monitor and manage your telecom environment to ensure performance, compliance, and cost efficiency over time.
Real-World Results
Here’s what a typical GCG client can expect:
- Immediate savings
- 100% visibility into all active lines and usage
- Increased compliance and reliability for life safety systems
- Freedom from outdated carrier contracts and unpredictable pricing
Don’t Wait — Rising POTS Costs Aren’t Slowing Down
Every month that goes by, you’re likely paying more than you should. The sunset of POTS isn’t a future event — it’s happening now. Delaying the move to modern telecom solutions puts your budget and operations at unnecessary risk.
GCG is here to make this transition simple.
Whether you manage a single site or hundreds of locations, we’ll help you take control of your telecom landscape, eliminate waste, and modernize with confidence.