Why is this system being decommissioned?
The system has supported analog phone services at the University of Kentucky for over 30 years. The system is no longer sustainable due to aging hardware, limited vendor support, and the need to transition to modern communication infrastructure.
What is the planned date?
The current target for retiring the system is late summer 2025; however, that timeline depends on the ability to locate and transition any remaining active services.
Does ITS has a list of all analog devices?
While every attempt is being made to identify all active services, some records may be incomplete due to the system’s age.
What types of devices are included in this decommissioning?
Below is a list of possible devices, however, this is not exhaustive and there could be others as well.
- Analog Phones
- Analog Fax Machines
- Analog point of sale devices
- Fire/Security Alarms
- Elevator Phones
- Special Equipment e.g. refrigeration units, meters, medical equipment, etc.
- Call Boxes
- Building Controls Equipment
- DSL or Modem lines
PRI or T1 circuits
Is my phone analog?
If your phone is not a Cisco brand phone it is likely an analog device. Some possible analog brands would be Cortelco, Panasonic, or the Medpat patient phones.
How do I tell if a device other than a phone is analog?
If you look at the jack that plugs into the wall, an analog device will typically use an RJ11 connector instead of a RJ45 connector which would be used by a digital device. See the image below for the differences between the two connectors.
If I have a device that relies on analog service, will I still be able to use it after this happens?
Once the system is fully retired, ITS’s ability to provide analog phone service will be limited to special use cases. While customers will be encouraged to adopt modern, supportable communication platforms, basic analog service may still be provided in cases where migration is not feasible.
Who can I contact if I have a device that I believe is analog?
Ann Stephens is leading this effort, please contact her at 859-257-8677 or email her at ann.stephens@uky.edu. You may also contact Thomas Hinton at 859-218-2982 or thomas.hinton@uky.edu.