URGENT: The POTS Sunset Crisis Affecting Every Hotel

 

Is your hotel at risk of losing fire alarm monitoring, elevator emergency phones, and critical communication systems?

Traditional copper phone lines (POTS – Plain Old Telephone Service) are being discontinued nationwide. This isn’t a future concern—it’s happening now, and properties without replacement solutions face immediate life-safety compliance violations.

What’s Being Discontinued:

• All traditional copper landline service from major carriers
• No grandfathering, no extensions, no exceptions
• Service already terminated in many markets
• Others receiving 30-90 day final disconnection notices

 

Critical Systems at Immediate Risk:

• Fire alarm monitoring connections – Building code violations if disconnected
• Elevator emergency phones – ADA and safety code requirement
• Pool area emergency call boxes – Liability exposure
• Parking structure emergency phones – Life-safety systems
• Back-office fax lines – Credit card processing and operations

 

Compliance and Liability Consequences:

Building Code Violations:

• Fire marshal citations and violations
• Failed safety inspections
• Occupancy permit revocation possible
• Insurance policy invalidation

Guest Safety Liability:

• Non-functional emergency systems
• ADA compliance failures
• Potential litigation exposure
• Duty of care obligations unmet

Operational Disruptions:

• Front desk phone system failures
• Reservation line disconnections
• Inter-department communication loss
• Guest service interruptions

 

Timeline Reality:

• Some properties: Already disconnected
• Most properties: 30-90 days notice
• All properties: Must act urgently
• No extensions being granted

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Real-World Impact: 425-Line Hospitality Deployment Case Study

 

Leading Global Timeshare Brand Faces Compliance Crisis

Property Profile:

• 130 US-based resort locations
• 425 POTS lines across properties
• Multiple systems at risk: fire alarms, elevators, emergency phones
• Multiple carriers with inconsistent service
• Rising costs and reliability issues

The Crisis:

• Digital voice lines failing to meet regulatory requirements
• Fire alarm systems losing monitoring connections
• Elevator emergency phones non-compliant
• Failed trials with multiple replacement solutions
• Urgent need to restore compliance before citations

The Challenge: Properties needed a single, fully-supported solution to:

• Replace all 425 POTS lines reliably
• Maintain fire alarm monitoring compliance
• Ensure elevator emergency phone functionality
• Support fax machines and backup systems
• Provide remote management and visibility

The Solution: Comprehensive POTS Replacement

Proof of Concept Testing:

• Three solution providers evaluated
• Live demonstrations at corporate office
• Only one provider successfully connected fire alarm system
• Critical requirement that secured trust and business

Deployment Execution:

• Ooma AirDial cellular-based POTS replacement
• 425 lines deployed across 130 properties
• Dedicated connectivity for each system type:
  • Fire alarm monitoring
  • Elevator emergency phones
  • Pool and amenity emergency call boxes
  • Fax machines and IoT devices
• Remote Device Management portal for visibility

Measurable Results:

• ✅ Compliance Restored: All fire alarm and elevator systems fully compliant
• ✅ 50% Cost Savings: Dramatic reduction vs. legacy POTS charges
• ✅ Complete Visibility: Remote monitoring of all lines and systems
• ✅ Reliability Improved: Cellular redundancy and automatic failover
• ✅ Simplified Management: Single platform for entire portfolio
• ✅ Project Success: Weekly meetings, exceptional communication, on-time delivery

Key Success Factors:

• Vendor proved capability through live demonstration
• Solution specifically designed for life-safety applications
• Remote management critical for multi-property operations
• Cost savings funded additional technology investments
• Compliance risk eliminated across entire portfolio

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POTS Replacement Solutions: Technology and Implementation

 

Modern Alternatives to Copper Landlines

Cellular-Based POTS Replacement (Recommended for Life-Safety)

How It Works:

• Cellular modem simulates traditional phone line
• FCC-compliant voice connectivity
• Plug-and-play replacement for existing systems
• No rewiring or system modifications required
• Automatic failover between carriers

Ideal Applications:

• Fire alarm monitoring systems
• Elevator emergency phones
• Pool and parking emergency call boxes
• Fax machines and legacy equipment
• Any system requiring analog phone line

Key Advantages:

• Cellular redundancy (multi-carrier support)
• No dependency on internet or network infrastructure
• Works with existing fire alarm and elevator panels
• Remote monitoring and management
• Lower monthly costs than POTS
• Quick deployment without service interruption

Investment:

• Per-line cost: $20-40 monthly (vs. $60-120 for POTS)
• Equipment: $200-400 per line one-time
• Installation: Minimal, often self-install capable
• 50% cost savings typical

Proven Providers:

• Ooma AirDial (proven in 425-line hospitality deployment)
• Telular/Numerex
• Other FCC-certified cellular POTS replacements

 

VoIP/SIP Trunking (For Non-Life-Safety Systems)

When Appropriate:

• Front desk phone systems
• Back-office communications
• Non-emergency applications
• Systems where internet dependency acceptable

Limitations for Hotels:

• Internet dependency creates single point of failure
• Not recommended for fire alarms or elevators
• Power outage vulnerabilities
• May not meet life-safety code requirements

Best Practice: Use cellular POTS replacement for life-safety, VoIP for general communications

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UCaaS: Modern Hotel Phone Systems

 

Unified Communications as a Service for Hospitality Operations

What is UCaaS? Cloud-based phone and communication platform replacing traditional PBX systems with modern, flexible, cost-effective solution.

Core Capabilities:

Cloud-Based Phone System:

• No on-premise PBX hardware required
• Automatic updates and new features
• Disaster recovery built-in
• Scalable without equipment purchases

Multi-Device Flexibility:

• Desk phones, mobile apps, softphones
• Staff can work from anywhere
• Remote management and reservations staff
• Seamless handoff between devices

Hospitality-Specific Features:

• Integration with property management systems (PMS)
• Caller ID shows guest name and room number
• Automatic routing based on time and department
• Call recording for training and quality
• Multi-location support for hotel groups

Advanced Collaboration:

• Video conferencing for remote meetings
• Team messaging and chat
• File sharing and collaboration
• Presence indicators (available, busy, away)

Business Benefits for Hotels:

Cost Savings (40-50% typical):

• Eliminate PBX hardware and maintenance
• No costly system upgrades or replacements
• Predictable monthly per-user pricing
• Reduced IT infrastructure requirements

Operational Efficiency:

• Add/remove users instantly without technician
• Configure call routing through web portal
• Voicemail to email transcription
• Call analytics and reporting

Staff Productivity:

• Remote agents access full phone system
• Mobile app for on-the-go staff
• Unified contacts and call history
• Click-to-dial from any application

Guest Experience Impact:

• Faster call routing to right department
• Reduced hold times and transfers
• Better-informed staff with caller information
• Professional image with advanced features

 

Implementation Considerations:

Network Requirements:

• Sufficient internet bandwidth (100kbps per concurrent call)
• Quality of Service (QoS) configuration
• Network redundancy for reliability
• Separate voice VLAN recommended

Migration Strategy:

• Parallel operation during transition
• Phased rollout by department or property
• Staff training and adoption program
• Number porting from existing carrier

Investment:

• Per-user cost: $20-40 monthly
• 50-user property: $1,000-2,000 monthly
• Implementation: $10,000-30,000
• Hardware (phones): $100-300 per station
• ROI: 12-18 months vs. legacy PBX costs

Leading UCaaS Providers for Hospitality:

• RingCentral
• 8×8
• Vonage
• Mitel
• Cisco Webex Calling

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CCaaS: Cloud Contact Center for Reservations

 

Contact Center as a Service for Hotel Reservations and Guest Services

Why Hotels Need CCaaS:Traditional reservation and guest service operations face challenges:

• Siloed phone, email, chat, and social media channels
• No unified guest history across touchpoints
• Difficult to support multiple properties
• Limited analytics and performance insights
• Expensive on-premise contact center infrastructure

CCaaS Solution Benefits:

Omnichannel Guest Communications:

• Phone, email, chat, SMS, social media unified
• Seamless conversation across channels
• Context preserved throughout interaction
• Guest chooses preferred communication method

CRM Integration:

• Complete guest history and preferences
• Booking history and loyalty status
• Special requests and notes
• Personalized service based on profile

Multi-Property Support:

• Centralized reservations serving multiple properties
• Intelligent routing based on location, availability, rates
• Cross-property visibility and transfers
• Consistent guest experience across portfolio

Advanced Features:

• AI-powered chatbots for common inquiries
• Automated callbacks when wait times high
• Skills-based routing to best-qualified agent
• Real-time analytics and dashboards
• Quality monitoring and call recording
• Workforce management and scheduling

Results Achieved:

• 35% reduction in reservation handling time
• 60% of inquiries handled through automation
• 40% improvement in first-contact resolution
• 50% reduction in abandoned calls
• 25% increase in conversion rates

Investment:

• Per-agent cost: $75-150 monthly
• 20-agent center: $1,500-3,000 monthly
• Implementation: $15,000-40,000
• ROI: 18-24 months through efficiency and conversion

Leading Providers:

• Vonage Contact Center
• Genesys Cloud
• Five9
• NICE CXone
• Talkdesk

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Implementation Roadmap: Communications Transformation

 

Phase 1: Urgent POTS Replacement (Immediate – 30 Days)

Week 1: Assessment

• Inventory all POTS lines across properties
• Identify which systems use each line
• Confirm carrier disconnection timelines
• Prioritize life-safety systems

Week 2-3: Solution Deployment

• Order cellular POTS replacement devices
• Schedule installation (often self-install)
• Test fire alarm and elevator connectivity
• Verify remote monitoring functionality

Week 4: Validation

• Test all emergency systems
• Confirm fire alarm monitoring receipt
• Verify elevator emergency phone operation
• Document compliance for inspections

Phase 2: UCaaS Migration (60-90 Days)

• Select UCaaS provider and plan
• Design call flows and routing
• Port phone numbers
• Deploy phones and train staff
• Parallel operation then cutover

Phase 3: CCaaS Implementation (90-180 Days)

• Define requirements and workflows
• Select CCaaS platform
• Integrate with PMS and CRM
• Train reservation and guest service staff
• Launch with monitoring and optimization

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Vendor-Agnostic Approach: Why It Matters for Communications

 

Different Systems Need Different Solutions:Hotels require multiple communication technologies:

• Life-safety systems: Cellular POTS replacement
• Front desk operations: UCaaS cloud phone system
• Reservations/guest services: CCaaS contact center
• Guest WiFi calling: Separate network infrastructure

One-size-fits-all approaches fail because:

• Fire alarm vendors may push expensive proprietary solutions
• Phone system providers lack life-safety expertise
• Contact center platforms don’t address POTS replacement
• Single vendors rarely excel in all areas

MoJo’s Methodology:

• Cellular POTS replacement for life-safety (proven solutions)
• Best-fit UCaaS for operational communications
• Hospitality-optimized CCaaS for reservations
• Integration expertise across all platforms
• No vendor bias or sales commissions

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Take Action: Communications Assessment

 

URGENT: Don’t wait for disconnection notices.

MoJo Technology Group’s complimentary communications assessment:

• POTS line inventory and risk analysis
• Carrier termination timeline confirmation
• Life-safety system compliance review
• UCaaS and CCaaS needs assessment
• Comprehensive replacement roadmap and pricing

Contact:

• Phone: (855) 234-9800
• Website: mojotechgroup.com
• Email: info@mojotechgroup.com