Are You Ready for the POTS Line Shutdown? DataRemote's COO Weighs In
Originally published in Wireless Dealer Magazine
Direct Answer
Not yet, according to most businesses — but the shutdown is already underway. In this interview, DataRemote COO Timor Brik explains that carriers are reducing copper maintenance, discontinuing copper-dependent products, and raising prices as they retire legacy networks. DataRemote’s flagship POTS IN A BOX® is built as a drop-in replacement: it keeps your existing phone, fax machine, or alarm panel in place while moving the underlying line to 5G/LTE, with 24+ hours of battery backup and full E-911 support.
Wireless Dealer Magazine recently spoke with Timor Brik, COO of DataRemote, about the company’s role in providing POTS line replacement solutions to carriers, dealers, and end customers.
Key takeaways
- Carriers are reducing copper maintenance and discontinuing copper-dependent products while increasing prices — a trend Brik says is accelerating, not slowing.
- DataRemote has worked on analog copper telephone transformation since 1991.
- POTS IN A BOX® is DataRemote’s flagship product: an enterprise-grade 5G/LTE router that directly replaces wireline POTS lines.
- It supports fax, fire alarms, burglar alarms, and analog modem data, with full E-911 access and 24+ hours of battery backup.
- DataRemote partners with major carriers and providers including AT&T, MetTel, and RingCentral.
A conversation with COO Timor Brik
Since 1991, DataRemote has worked at the forefront of analog copper telephone lines and their progression toward digital transformation. Brik emphasized that businesses need to adapt as telecom carriers phase out copper landlines:
“Carriers are decreasing the service and repair of copper infrastructure and discontinuing certain products as they retire their copper networks, while increasing the cost to consumers.”
— Timor Brik, COO, DataRemote
“Network transformation reduces costs, provides enhanced functionality, and eliminates dependence on archaic copper landline networks.”
— Timor Brik, COO, DataRemote
What the copper shutdown means for your business
Landlines are going away. If your retail store operates its main number and security alarm on a landline, now is the time to plan a more affordable, more secure alternative. Instead of replacing an expensive alarm or fire panel — which can require new permits — a drop-in landline replacement like POTS IN A BOX® connects to the equipment you already have. Its 24+ hour backup battery keeps the line up through a power or internet outage, meaning less downtime and fewer missed transactions.
“The POTS IN A BOX® is our flagship product,” Brik noted. This enterprise-grade 5G router directly replaces wireline POTS lines, giving businesses a reliable, cost-effective communication channel. It supports critical systems such as fax, fire alarms and burglar alarms, and analog modem data, with full E-911 access and battery backup for uninterrupted service.
“We are committed to staying at the cutting edge of technology,” Brik added, pointing to DataRemote’s emphasis on security and privacy and its implementation of rigorous data protection practices.
Built on carrier partnerships
Brik also highlighted DataRemote’s partnerships with major telecommunications companies, including AT&T, MetTel, and RingCentral, which reinforce DataRemote’s position in the POTS replacement market. These partnerships allow DataRemote’s POTS IN A BOX® hardware to be deployed through carrier-managed service offerings at scale — as seen in deployments like the MetTel USPS modernization across 17,000 postal locations.
DataRemote’s solutions are designed to deliver significant cost savings, improved reliability, and streamlined communications — making the company a practical partner for businesses transitioning from copper analog lines to digital connectivity.
Choosing the right device
DataRemote offers multiple POTS IN A BOX® models depending on network requirements and line count:
- 90X1 — 5G with automatic internet failover, up to 48-hour battery backup, and UPS power output.
- 90X2 — the LTE counterpart to the 90X1, with the same core continuity features.
For a full breakdown of certifications and compliance standards behind these devices, see DataRemote’s Trust Center.
Talk to DataRemote about your copper transition
If your business, alarm panel, or fax line still depends on a copper POTS connection, don’t wait for a shutdown notice. Contact DataRemote to find the right POTS IN A BOX® configuration for your lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Carriers are actively decreasing service and repair of copper infrastructure, discontinuing certain products as they retire copper networks, and raising prices for the copper service that remains.
POTS IN A BOX® is DataRemote's flagship enterprise-grade 5G/LTE appliance that directly replaces wireline POTS lines, supporting fax, fire alarms, burglar alarms, and analog modem data with full E-911 access.
No. POTS IN A BOX® is a drop-in landline replacement — it connects to your existing alarm panel, fax machine, or phone without requiring new permits in most cases, since it presents the same analog line the equipment already expects.
POTS IN A BOX® includes 24+ hours of backup battery, ensuring business continuity and E-911 access even when power or internet service is disrupted.
Ready to see if POTS IN A BOX® fits your lines?
Talk to our team about a drop-in replacement for your fax, alarm, or ring-down lines.
