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The alternative to a traditional PBX — repair yours, or move to the cloud?

Most people who reach this page already have a PBX that has worked for years, and have just hit one of three things: a fault that needs an engineer, an expansion that needs a new card and new lines, or an office move. This page compares the two options with facts — and tells you honestly when keeping your existing PBX is the better decision.

Item	Traditional PBX	Atheer — cloud PBX
Upfront cost	Hardware + cards + installation + cabling	No box to buy — a monthly subscription
Expansion	A new card and an engineer visit; the unit can hit its ceiling	Add an extension from the panel in a minute
Remote work	Needs extra setup, often a VPN	Mobile and browser apps — the number follows the person
Office power or internet outage	The PBX sits in your office and stops with it	The platform keeps running; calls fail over to mobiles
Reports and recording	Limited, or a paid add-on licence	Recording and live reports included
Maintenance	A maintenance contract and site visits	Updates happen on the platform, with no visits
Moving office	Uninstall, reinstall and new cabling	Move the phones and plug them into the internet

⚖️ When we do not recommend switching

Your office internet is unstable — a cloud PBX depends on it. If your connection drops often, fix that first or keep one landline as a fallback.
Your PBX is new and covers your needs — if it works and you need no remote work, no reports and no near-term expansion, keeping it is financially sound.
You have special analogue equipment such as alarm panels or lift phones on analogue lines — these need a gateway, an extra cost to count before deciding.

🔄 Do I lose my current numbers?

No. Your existing lines can be connected to Atheer through a gateway, or the numbers ported subject to what your operator allows. Many customers move in two stages: connect the existing lines and run the team on Atheer first, then port the numbers later without downtime.

🕒 How long does the switch take?

Core activation takes 24 hours: phones arrive pre-configured and work the moment they reach the internet, and your auto-attendant and call routing are built with you the same day. Connecting existing lines or porting numbers can take longer, because that depends on your telecom operator rather than on us.

Compare cost and plans Ask us to assess your setup