I. Why More Buildings Are Migrating from Analog/Digital to IP Phones

Across hotels, office buildings, hospitals, campuses, and elevator systems, legacy analog and digital PBX systems are rapidly being phased out.

Key drivers include:

● PSTN shutdown in many countries

● High maintenance cost of legacy PBX systems

● Limited scalability of analog infrastructure

● Demand for unified communication (UC), VoIP, and IP-based monitoring

● Integration with CCTV, intercom, IoT, and management platforms

However, when end users begin the migration process, the biggest concern is rarely “technology.”
It is risk, cost, and disruption.

What End Customers Care About Most During an IP Migration

1️⃣ Will This Upgrade Require Rewiring the Entire Building?

For buildings constructed 10–30 years ago, telephone wiring is already embedded in walls, shafts, and conduits.

Rewiring concerns include:

● Civil work and wall damage

● Business downtime

● Elevator shaft cable replacement complexity

● Hotel room access disruption

● High labor cost

In many cases, the wiring cost exceeds the cost of IP phones themselves.

This is often the primary barrier to VoIP migration.

2️⃣ Can the Existing Telephone Cable Support IP Transmission?

Traditional telephone systems use:

● 2-wire copper cable (twisted pair)

● Cat3 wiring

● Multi-core copper bundles

End users ask:

● Can IP signals run over old copper?

● What is the maximum distance?

● Will bandwidth be stable?

● Can power (PoE) be delivered?

The answer depends on the transmission technology used.

3️⃣ Distance Limitations in Large Buildings

Standard Ethernet is limited to 100 meters.

In real projects such as:

● High-rise buildings

● Elevator shafts

● Campus-style hotels

● Industrial sites

Distances often exceed:

● 200m

● 500m

● 1000m

Without special transmission devices, IP deployment becomes difficult.

4️⃣ Downtime & Business Continuity Risks

Hotels and hospitals cannot afford service interruption.

Concerns include:

● Room communication outage

● Emergency call system downtime

● Reception system migration risk

● Integration with PMS or management platforms

Migration must be phased, controlled, and predictable.

5️⃣ Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

End users evaluate:

● Hardware cost

● Installation cost

● Downtime cost

● Future scalability

● Energy consumption

● Maintenance complexity

The cheapest hardware solution may not be the most economical overall.

II. Major Challenges When Migrating from Analog/Digital to IP

Challenge 1: Infrastructure Incompatibility

Legacy wiring was not designed for Ethernet signals.

Running new Cat6 cable may be expensive or physically impossible.

Challenge 2: Power Delivery Over Long Distances

IP phones and intercom devices require power.

If PoE switches are centralized, long-distance power loss becomes a concern.

Challenge 3: Signal Stability Over Old Copper

Older cables may have:

● Oxidation

● Unknown routing

● Mixed cable types

● Electrical interference

This raises concerns about packet loss and jitter.

Challenge 4: Elevator & Vertical Shaft Applications

In elevator modernization projects:

● Travelling cables are expensive to replace

● Safety compliance is critical

● Space inside shaft is limited

Traditional Ethernet solutions are not ideal.

III. The Smart Approach: Reusing Existing Telephone Lines with Ethernet Extenders

Instead of removing legacy wiring, many system integrators now adopt:

Ourten IP/PoE over 2-Wire Transmission Solutions

These technologies allow:

Ethernet signal over existing telephone copper

● Long-distance transmission (200–1000m+)

● Optional PoE delivery

● Minimal civil work

This approach is widely used in:

● Hotel phone system upgrades

● Elevator emergency phone modernization

● Office PBX replacement

● Campus retrofits

How IP over Telephone Line Works

Specialized Ethernet extenders convert:

IP signal → modulated signal over 2-wire copper → restored Ethernet at endpoint

Key features typically include:

● High speed（100Mbps/1000Mbps）

● 300–1000m transmission distance

● Stable bandwidth over Cat3 cable

● Point-to-point or point-to-multipoint configuration

Benefits of Reusing Existing Telephone Wiring

✔ 1. No Rewiring Required

Massively reduces installation cost.

✔ 2. Faster Deployment

Upgrade can be completed room by room.

✔ 3. Lower Downtime Risk

Phased migration possible.

✔ 4. Ideal for Elevator & High-Rise Projects

Perfect for long vertical distances.

✔ 5. Budget Can Be Shifted to Higher Quality End Devices

Instead of spending on cables and labor, funds can improve IP phones or communication servers.

Typical Use Cases

● Hotel migrating from analog PBX to IP PBX

● Elevator emergency intercom converting from PSTN to VoIP

● Hospital nurse call system IP integration

● Office building VoIP modernization

● Government facility digital transformation

Common Buyer Questions

Can I use existing telephone cable for VoIP?

Yes, with Ethernet extenders or IP over 2-wire solutions, existing copper telephone lines can carry IP traffic.

What is the maximum distance?

Depending on device technology, up to 300m–1000m or more.

Is PoE supported?

Some solutions support PoE over 2-wire, allowing remote device powering.

Will signal quality be stable?

Industrial-grade solutions are designed for stable long-distance transmission over legacy copper.

IV. Conclusion: Migration Is About Strategy, Not Just Technology

Analog to IP migration is not simply replacing phones.

It requires balancing:

● Infrastructure constraints

● Cost control

● Downtime management

● Long-term scalability

Reusing existing telephone wiring with IP/PoE over 2-wire transmission solutions offers a practical, cost-effective bridge between legacy infrastructure and modern IP communication systems.

For many retrofit projects, it is the difference between “too expensive to upgrade” and “ready for digital transformation.”