In a special Technology Reseller News podcast, Clinton Fitch, Director of Strategic Partnership at Ooma, joined Doug Green to discuss the fast-shifting landscape of POTS line replacement—and why now is the time for both enterprises and exchange carriers to act.

With over 171 million POTS lines in the U.S. in 2005, that number has plummeted to just 11.6 million in 2024, according to Telegeography. While most standard voice lines have been replaced, critical-use analog lines—such as elevator phones, fire panels, and fax machines—remain. These are now under increasing threat, as carriers begin rapidly sunsetting copper networks.

“The time for POTS replacement is now,” said Fitch, citing recent announcements such as AT&T’s plan to exit copper entirely by 2029. With the FCC’s 2019 ruling now fully in effect, carriers are allowed to abandon copper and charge premium prices for maintaining legacy lines. The result: exchange carriers and their customers may receive only 30–90 days’ notice before a vital analog line is shut down.

Enter Ooma AirDial®—a certified, all-in-one cloud-based solution designed to replace legacy POTS lines with support for elevators, fire alarms, entry systems, modems, fax machines, and more. AirDial is certified by NFPA, the New York Fire Department, and the California State Fire Marshal, and supports HIPAA and PCI compliance.

Built for rapid deployment, Ooma AirDial® offers:

Dual-path connectivity (Ethernet + LTE) with MultiPath Transport™ for maximum reliability

Remote Device Management via a secure, intuitive cloud platform

Patented packet duplication for seamless call continuity

Carrier-ready flexibility for white-label and managed service deployment

According to Ooma’s recent survey conducted with CIO Magazine, over 50% of organizations are actively evaluating or replacing their POTS infrastructure. But for the remaining users—many of whom are unaware of copper sunset deadlines—the window for a smooth transition is rapidly closing.

“We’re entering a traffic jam,” warned Fitch. “By 2027–2029, demand will outstrip supply for solutions, deployments, and expertise. If you’re not starting now, you risk getting stuck at the back of the line—and your elevators, alarms, and other systems may stop working.”

Ooma AirDial® is available now to exchange carriers, MSPs, and end customers—either through direct purchase or via carrier partnerships. With tens of thousands of units already deployed across healthcare, retail, education, and property management sectors, the solution is proven and ready to scale.

Learn more at www.ooma.com/business/airdial, or reach out directly at exchangecarrier@ooma.com to start your strategy discussion today.