Alun powering off our Siemens ISDX PABX for the last time

Embarking on a new journey

Sussex Unified Comms Engineer, Alun Kraft, recently turned the page on forty years of history when he switched off the University’s old telephony system for the final time.

The Siemens ISDX PABX system, which previously formed the backbone of telephony on campus, was fully replaced last summer by Microsoft Teams Calling, but reached the end of its journey officially at the end of 2024.

Alun, who has worked on the Siemens system at Sussex for 24 years, speaks about the old system with affection:

"Originally installed in 1986, this robust piece of technology was built to last, having been powered down only twice in its nearly 40-year lifespan. This marks the third – and final – shutdown of a system that has faithfully served its purpose for decades…"

The migration of over 3,500 staff across campus from the old system to Microsoft Teams Calling moved the University forward from an analogue to a fully digital system.

Speaking about the switch, Alun said:

"Microsoft Teams telephony has brought significant benefits, including streamlined communication, enhanced hybrid working, and seamless integration with Microsoft 365 tools.

"The new system enables mobility across devices, simplifies management via a centralised cloud platform, and offers robust security tailored to the University’s needs. Contributing to this transformation and seeing its positive impact has been deeply rewarding."

Find out more

You can find out more about Microsoft Teams Calling by visiting our Telephony Modernisation webpage for resources or further information.

For questions or feedback, please contact BetterCampus@sussex.ac.uk.