Traditional PBX systems are the legacy solution for business communications, relying on physical infrastructure and copper landlines. These systems connect to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and use an on-premises “PBX box” to route calls through telephony switches to desk phones. While once the industry standard, they struggle to meet modern business needs.

How It Works:

• Operates via copper landlines and PSTN.

• Requires an on-site PBX hardware unit to manage call routing.

• Uses internal extensions to connect calls within the office.

Limitations:

• Limited scalability: Fixed number of extensions and outside lines.

• High costs: Expensive hardware, installation, and maintenance.

• Outdated features: No support for IVR, remote access, or voicemail-to-email.

• Inflexible: Difficult to adapt to growing teams or new technology.