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LTE/5G POTS replacement
(POTS-in-a-box)
Ideal for: Fire panels, elevator phones, access control, security systems, life-safety equipment
Benefits: Battery backup (8–24 hr), LTE failover, remote monitoring, works during internet outages
Plain Old Telephone Service Line Replacement
Cloud and Wireless/LTE POTS Alternatives
With POTS retirement underway, provider selection is now a priority for many organizations. Use this guide to compare leading cloud, wireless/LTE, VoIP, SIP, and POTS-in-a-box providers based on your coverage needs.
Or speak to an advisor for a free POTS replacement provider comparison.
Why provider selection matters during POTS retirement
Carriers are actively retiring copper infrastructure, raising prices, and limiting support for analog POTS lines.
This makes provider selection more important than ever. While POTS replacement technology is well established, provider capabilities can vary significantly.
Differences between providers often include:
- Solution focus: Providers differ in whether they emphasize LTE replacement, cloud voice, SIP, or a mix.
- Network dependency: Some solutions rely on local internet, while others operate independently over LTE.
- Coverage footprint: Coverage can be nationwide or limited by region.
- Monitoring and support: Levels of visibility and ongoing support vary by provider.
- Scalability: Not all providers support mixed environments or long-term growth.
Understanding these differences helps organizations compare providers more effectively and choose options that best align with their operations.
Which systems are impacted by POTS retirement?
Most businesses don’t realize how many back-end devices still rely on copper. The list is far more extensive than the familiar: elevators, fire alarms, and security systems.
Explore a detailed, industry-based list of common POTS-dependent devices:
Banking & financial services (branches, credit unions, ATMs)
- Fire alarm and security alarm panels
- Vault and night-drop security systems
- ATMs and ITM machines
- Branch security access and gate controllers
- Fax lines for documentation and wire confirmations
- Voice lines for branch phones and analog failover
- Panic buttons and silent alarms
- Drive-through intercoms
Education & campus environments
- Fire alarm and sprinkler monitoring
- Elevator emergency phones in classroom and dorm buildings
- Campus blue-light/emergency phones
- Door access and intercom systems (dorms, labs, admin buildings)
- Paging and bell systems (sometimes tied to analog lines)
- Security alarms and intrusion detection
- Fax machines in offices, registrars, and health services
- POS terminals in bookstores and cafeterias
Energy & utilities
- Fire and intrusion alarm panels at plants and substations
- SCADA modems and telemetry circuits
- Remote monitoring for pumps, compressors, and pipelines
- Utility meter reading and reporting lines
- Security gates and access control systems
- Emergency phones at remote or hazardous locations
Government, municipalities & public safety
- Fire alarm panels and monitoring at public buildings
- Elevator emergency phones in government facilities
- Blue-light and public emergency call boxes
- Security alarms and intrusion systems at courthouses or offices
- Utility meter reading lines (water, gas, electricity)
- SCADA and remote monitoring for infrastructure
- Fax lines for legal/records offices
- Access control at secure entrances and gates
Healthcare (hospitals, clinics, labs, pharmacies)
- Fire alarm panels and monitoring lines
- Elevator emergency phones
- Security alarms and intrusion panels
- Building access control (badge readers, door strikes)
- Fax machines for prescriptions, lab results, and medical records
- POS terminals in gift shops and pharmacies
- Nurse call and patient assistance phones (in some legacy setups)
- Emergency call boxes in parking structures and campus areas
- ATMs and banking kiosks on hospital campuses
Hospitality (hotels, resorts, extended stay)
- Fire alarm monitoring lines
- Elevator emergency phones
- In-room analog phones (still common in many hotels)
- Emergency call boxes in parking areas and pool decks
- Security alarms and intrusion detection
- Door and gate access systems
- Fax machines at front desk and business centers
- POS terminals in restaurants, bars, and shops
Manufacturing & industrial
- Fire alarm control panels and suppression systems
- Security alarms and perimeter intrusion systems
- Elevator and lift emergency phones
- SCADA endpoints using dial-out modems
- Environmental and temperature monitoring systems
- Utility meter lines (water, gas, electricity)
- Fax machines for purchase orders and logistics docs
- Gate phone panels and yard access controls
- Emergency call boxes and blue-light phones
Multi-site commercial & office (general business)
- Analog desk phones and PBX trunks
- Fire alarm panels and suppression systems
- Elevator emergency phones
- Security systems and access control
- Fax lines (legal, HR, finance)
- POS and payment terminals in on-site cafés or stores
- ATMs in lobbies
- Emergency call boxes in garages and campuses
Retail & grocery
- Fire alarm panels
- Security and intrusion alarms
- Elevator phones (for multilevel stores)
- POS terminals and credit card machines
- Fax lines for orders, invoices, and vendor communication
- ATMs inside stores
- Vending machines and kiosks
- Building entry intercoms and security gates
- Emergency call boxes or panic buttons (front end, parking, back-of-house)
Transportation & logistics (warehouses, airports, transit, parking)
- Elevator phones in terminals, parking structures, and warehouses
- Fire alarms and monitoring panels
- Gate entry and yard access phones
- Emergency call boxes in lots and ramps
- Security alarms and perimeter sensors
- Weigh-scale and loading dock communications
- Fax/POS lines for freight offices and ticketing
- Parking payment machines and kiosks
POTS replacement solutions
Modern alternatives fall into four main categories: LTE/5G or POTS-in-a-Box, VoIP/UCaaS, SIP trunking, and hybrid solutions, and typically include dedicated hardware, extended battery backup, and remote monitoring.
Compare each solution’s application and key benefits below:
VoIP/UCaaS
Ideal for: Office voice systems, call centers, remote teams, desk phones
Benefits: Lower costs, cloud calling features, mobility, integrates with CRM and collaboration tools
SIP trunking
Ideal for: Businesses with existing PBX systems
Benefits: Modernizes legacy voice systems, supports multi-line environments, scalable, and cost-efficient
Hybrid solutions
Ideal for: Multi-location businesses with mixed analog and digital needs
Benefits: Flexible, supports mixed environments, consolidates voice while keeping specialty analog lines operational
Leading POTS modernization providers
While many vendors offer partial or secondary support for POTS replacement, the following providers represent the most robust, widely adopted, and versatile options for modernizing life-safety and specialty lines.
The following companies offer strong coverage across LTE/5G POTS-in-a-Box, VoIP/UCaaS, SIP, and hybrid solutions, making them reliable choices for businesses of all sizes.
Epic iO
Why they’re a top pick:
EPIC iO delivers robust LTE/5G-based analog replacement with IoT and monitoring baked in. Their solution is versatile and works well for industrial, distributed, or complex life-safety environments.
Differentiators:
- LTE/5G wireless analog replacement
- Centralized remote monitoring
- Battery backup support
- Designed for distributed deployments
Best for: Organizations operating in challenging physical environments or managing widely distributed analog systems.
Fusion Connect
Why they’re a top pick:
Fusion Connect offers UCaaS, VoIP, and SIP trunking services, making them a strong option for organizations looking beyond basic POTS replacement toward long-term communications modernization.
Differentiators:
- SLA-backed VoIP services
- Strong UCaaS and SIP trunking portfolio
- Managed service model for distributed environments
Best for: Multi-location organizations that need managed VoIP and SIP services with strong SLAs and centralized support.
Lingo
Why they’re a top pick:
Lingo provides VoIP, UCaaS, SIP trunking, and business connectivity services with competitive pricing and flexible deployment options. They are a strong fit for SMB and mid-market organizations looking to modernize business voice systems without the complexity of enterprise-scale platforms.
Differentiators:
- Broad VoIP and cloud calling portfolio
- Competitive pricing for SMB and mid-market
- SIP trunking for PBX environments
- Flexible deployment options
Best for: Organizations seeking an affordable, cloud-based voice provider with SIP trunking support for modernizing traditional PBX systems.
Lumen
Why they’re a top pick:
Lumen is a large enterprise carrier offering SIP, cloud voice, hybrid voice, fiber, and managed services. They are well suited for enterprises or distributed campuses that require enterprise-grade connectivity across a nationwide network.
Differentiators:
- National backbone
- Enterprise-ready cloud voice, SIP, and hybrid voice
- Strong fit for large, distributed or multi-state environments
- Broad portfolio supporting legacy replacement and modernization
Best for: Enterprise and upper mid-market organizations that need high reliability and diverse connectivity options at scale.
MetTel
Why they’re a top pick:
MetTel is a well-known provider in POTS replacement, offering LTE-based solutions with centralized monitoring and nationwide deployment. Their managed service model supports large-scale and distributed environments.
Differentiators:
- LTE-based POTS replacement solutions
- Nationwide reach
- Broad telecom portfolio including LTE, SIP, hybrid voice, and SD-WAN
- Managed monitoring and network oversight
Best for: Enterprise and public-sector organizations looking for a fully managed POTS replacement solution at scale.
Nextiva
Why they’re a top pick:
Nextiva is a leading VoIP and UCaaS provider for SMB and mid-market organizations. While not designed for life-safety use cases, they are a strong fit for companies moving from on-prem PBX hardware to cloud-based voice.
Differentiators:
- Full UCaaS suite
- Built-in analytics and call routing
- Scalable pricing models
- SIP trunking available as an add-on
Best for: companies seeking a cloud-first voice platform (UCaaS) with SIP trunking backbone.
NHC
Why they’re a top pick:
NHC delivers an integrated Communications STACK™ that brings managed WAN, voice, UCaaS, security, firewall, and cloud services together under a single provider. Their model emphasizes unified management, vendor consolidation, and centralized service coordination across connectivity and communications.
Differentiators:
- Stateside support with a strong service focus
- Curated carrier options within a managed framework
- Well suited for vendor consolidation and centralized management
- Supports both legacy and cloud voice environments
Best for: Organizations looking to consolidate multi-location environments and simplify management of voice, connectivity, security, and cloud services through a single provider.
Ooma (AirDial)
Why they’re a top pick:
AirDial is a favorite for SMB and mid-market due to its affordability, simplicity, and compliance-focused design. It provides reliable LTE-based analog replacement for life-safety systems, making it one of the most accessible and user-friendly POTS-in-a-Box solutions.
Differentiators:
- Cost-effective POTS replacement option
- Transparent pricing
- Simple, plug-and-play deployment
- Designed to support critical analog systems
Best for: Organizations looking for a low-friction, easy-to-deploy POTS replacement solution.
Spectrotel
Why they’re a top pick:
Spectrotel is a multi-carrier aggregator that blends analog, SIP, and cloud services across hundreds of networks. Their vendor-agnostic model makes them ideal for organizations with complex, mixed environments where no single carrier meets every location’s needs.
Differentiators:
- Aggregates hundreds of carriers to build custom-fit solutions
- Strong fit for complex, multi-carrier environments
- Centralized management and consolidated billing
- Supports both legacy and modern voice systems
Best for: organizations with mixed carrier environments needing one partner to design, manage, and unify analog, SIP, and cloud connectivity.
How to choose the right provider
Choosing a POTS replacement provider is less about the technology itself and more about how well a provider aligns with your specific environment. Key considerations include:
- Which devices must be supported, including specialty and analog systems.
- Whether locations require LTE-based independence from local internet.
- Geographic coverage and deployment model across all sites.
- Level of monitoring, management, and ongoing operational support.
- Long-term modernization goals beyond immediate POTS replacement.
Because provider capabilities vary widely, many organizations benefit from an outside perspective.
Clearlink Consulting advisors help you evaluate these factors, comparing providers that match your requirements, all at no cost.
Next steps
If your organization still relies on POTS lines for elevators, alarms, fax, or specialty systems, provider selection should start now. Carrier retirement timelines can move quickly, and the right partner makes the transition far smoother.
Speak with an advisor to compare POTS replacement providers and build a practical modernization path.
FAQs
How do POTS replacement providers differ?
Providers vary widely in their focus areas. Some specialize in LTE-based analog replacement for specialty systems, while others focus on cloud voice, SIP trunking, or hybrid deployments. Differences often include coverage footprint, monitoring capabilities, service models, and experience supporting mixed environments.
Should I work with a single provider or multiple vendors?
That depends on your environment. Some organizations benefit from a single provider that can support multiple technologies, while others use different providers for specialty analog systems and business voice. Advisors can help determine whether consolidation or a multi-vendor approach makes more sense.
Are all POTS replacement providers nationwide?
No. Some providers offer nationwide coverage, while others are regional or rely on partner networks. Coverage consistency, especially across multi-location environments, is an important factor when comparing providers.