SOGEA, the next generation.

Public Switched Telephone Network and Integrated Services Digital Network services will be switched off by Openreach by December 2025, in one of the biggest shakeups in the telecommunications industry this century.  Stop Selling on these services across most of the UK is scheduled for 2023. The exchange areas that are put on top sale will follow an early path to product withdrawal. This is due to Openreach no longer being able to support the legacy PSTN network which delivers analogue services, as it strives to deliver on Full Fibre broadband and IP-based networks. This means that all Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) based broadband services will no longer be supported.

This means you will no longer be able to plug a standard telephone into your socket. The point will only provide an internet connection. Customers requiring a normal fixed landline will need a VoIP telephone.

The future of broadband is SOGEA

The future is data only, with single-order broadband services such as Single Order Generic Ethernet Access (SOGEA) at the core of this new direction. This will replace traditional broadband based on a PSTN or an analogue line service, which means you do not have to install a traditional copper phone line to support the broadband service. Hence the Single Order Ethernet solution. Ideal for those that want a broadband service without an associated analogue telephone line. If businesses want to make and receive phone calls, they will need to overlay a SIP Based phone system, or VoIP cloud-based voice service, utilising the SOGEA broadband for internet access.

What is SOGEA?

SOGA refers to fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) broadband services and SOGFast is the G.fast variant. It is based on the current Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) technology, and SOGEA uses a combination of copper and fibre technology, without the need for a traditional analogue telephony connection. Fibre technology is used from the local Exchange

There will be a voice‑only option. Customers, requiring Voice only services, in areas with no Fibre alternatives eg FTTC, FTTP, or G.fast will be offered a special Single Order Transitional Access Product (SOTAP).

Why switch to SOGEA?

SoGEA was so consumers and businesses can buy a broadband connection without the need for a phone line. Broadband service will be much easier to order via single order rather than multiple orders as with traditional broadband. Customers can deploy a voice service on a SoGEA line although it will have to be an IP-based solution like VoIP or SIP.

Benefits of Single Order GEA

Entry-level ethernet services that are  cheaper, easier and quicker to install

SOGA is the same high-quality FTTC broadband service we are all used to, but with a simpler installation and management it requires less effort to get up and running

Generally, FTTC and Single Order GEA will deliver the same performance, but SOGEA offers:

• Single Order request
• Single Provider, many businesses use one provider for their phone line and another for broadband, SOGEA negates more than one call.
• Faster install times
• Cheaper installation costs
• Quicker support times
• Better troubleshooting methods
• More reliable as there is less chance of interference.

Are there any drawbacks to SOGEA?

The main difference between the services is that SOGEA and SOGFast users will no longer have access to a phone number, as they did with an analogue line. SoGEA does not allow users to connect traditional phones to the Openreach socket. Users will have to adopt VoIP or VoIP softphones to be able to make and receive phone calls. Juno Telecoms provides solutions to ensure your numbers are not lost, with SoGEA Voice, or Phoneline+ solutions. Both are feature-rich products which deliver many functions and features beyond those of traditional analogue lines. Simple, easy-to-use, phone replacement services using VoIP technology to deliver voice calls over the fibre broadband network of the future.

Business customers must also consider that any services that currently run over the phone line such as alarms and payment terminals will no longer function after the WLR ISDN switch off and so will need to be upgraded to IP solutions or 4G/5G services.

Is Single Order GEA performance the same as FTTC?

No, generally you will experience better performance over what you currently do as no call, fax or alarm traffic can interfere with the integrity of the service as is now a single ethernet line.

What SOGEA or SOGFAST speeds can be expected?

SOGEA and SOGFAST will be offered at different speeds to suit a customer’s needs:

• SOGEA 40MB / 10MB
• SOGEA 80MB / 20MB
• SOGFAST 160MB / 30MB
• SOGFAST 330MB / 50M