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If you’re an end user of the NEC Phone System — SL2100, SV9100, SV9500, UNIVERGE 3C, or an older model like the SL1100 or SV8100 — you may already know about this announcement.
The end of another chapter has come for NEC phone systems with its exit from all on-premises phone system operations. Hardware ceased from sale and shipment, and technical support will be over by March 31, 2026. 
If you have been using any of these systems for your business, this will force you into making some decisions: whether to stay with your current platform with third-party support, migrate to a cloud solution, move to a new on-premises solution, or some combination. How much time do you have, and how urgently do you need to act?
What NEC Announced and When
In May 2024, NEC announced its complete withdrawal from on-premises Unified Communications in all areas outside of Japan. The withdrawal occurred in three phases.
The last date to buy any new systems was December 31, 2024. On this date, NEC ceased accepting purchase orders for all SL2100, SV9100, SV9500, and UNIVERGE 3C hardware, phones, expansion cards, software, and licenses. Any additional hardware you may need after that date will need to be sourced from reseller inventory or the second-hand refurbished market.
The last date for shipments was March 31, 2025 (passed). NEC shipped no orders placed prior to the last date for new sales after this point.
The last day for technical support is March 31, 2026. No hardware or software support services will be available after this date — no patches, no updates, no technical assistance.
The last day to purchase Software Assurance (SWA) is December 31, 2025. This is the most actionable deadline still ahead. SV9100 users who purchase SWA before this date can extend their support window through March 2030.
Affected equipment includes the UNIVERGE SV9100, SV9500, SL2100, UNIVERGE 3C, and all related applications and hardware. The previously announced end-of-life models — SL1100, SV8100, Aspire, and XN120 — are without a manufacturer support path.
Forerunner Technologies’ Acquisition of NEC
In February 2025, Forerunner Technologies acquired the on-premises UC business of NEC in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. The acquisition included all of NEC’s inventory, NTAC support operations, and technical and channel personnel. Distribution of NEC’s products now occurs through Optus, effective March 3, 2025.
The acquisition included a commitment from NEC Japan to continue providing software assurance and licensing through March 2030, to develop new hardware using the SV9000 platform, and to provide continued support through the Forerunner/Optus channel.
As a result, there is meaningful relief for SV9100 users. The hard support cliff for 2026 has been eliminated if you are able to obtain software assurance. Forerunner also intends to continue development of the UNIVERGE 3C platform.
Things are much different for SL2100 users. Manufacturing for the SL2100 has ceased and there is little to no hardware remaining in distributor inventory. When these products are gone, there will not be any manufacturers providing replacement parts. Software assurance options exist, but finding replacement hardware for failed components will only become harder over time.
What This Means by System
SV9100 users have the best option for staying on their platform. If the system is working properly and you are willing to use the Forerunner/Optus channel, you have a reasonable case for maintaining it through 2030 — assuming you purchase software assurance prior to December 31, 2025. Also worth noting: if your SV9100 was purchased prior to 2022 with a CP-10 CPU rather than the newer CP-20, your effective support window ends at that same December 2025 date regardless.
SL2100 users are in a more urgent position. The manufacturing plant is closed and there will be no new hardware available. As reseller inventory is depleted, parts availability will shrink, and the possibility of a hardware failure without a replacement path is very real — particularly for businesses that cannot tolerate extended downtime, such as hospitals, law firms, and service dispatch operations. It is never a good idea to wait for your hardware to fail before making a decision.
SL1100, SV8100, Aspire, and XN120 users must act as soon as possible. These systems were at end-of-life prior to the 2024 announcement — the SL1100 and SV8100 lost NEC support in 2019 — and the Forerunner acquisition extends no support path for these platforms.
Risks of Staying on an Unsupported NEC System
Even if you are able to obtain third-party support, there are substantial risks associated with running an EOL phone system.
Security vulnerabilities. Without security updates or firmware fixes from the manufacturer after March 2026, your phone system becomes an increasingly exposed attack surface. PBX systems are susceptible to hacking and toll fraud, which costs businesses billions annually, and unsupported systems are common targets.
Hardware failure without replacement. NEC hardware is no longer being manufactured for the SL2100, and is in limited production for the SV9100. When a critical component fails, sourcing a replacement becomes a parts-market problem, not a support call.
Compliance risk. Companies in regulated sectors — healthcare, finance, legal — face compliance exposure when running infrastructure that does not receive security patches.
Integration limitations. Modern business application vendors (CRM, helpdesk, collaboration) increasingly rely on up-to-date telephone infrastructure. Outdated, unsupported systems may become incompatible with newer versions of Windows or other application software.
Shrinking support ecosystem. The number of NEC-certified dealers and technicians providing service to these systems is declining rapidly. Finding experienced local support will become increasingly difficult.
Your Options
Option 1: Remain with NEC using third-party support (SV9100 only)
If you have a well-functioning SV9100 purchased recently, software assurance coverage, and a reliable support partner through Forerunner or Optus, this path is viable. Reach out to your NEC dealer and purchase Software Assurance before December 31, 2025, confirm your CPU version, and stockpile critical spare parts before they are no longer available. The honest trade-off is that you are extending the lifespan of a platform whose original manufacturer has left the market. Forerunner has limited resources compared to NEC, the reseller network has been disrupted, and hardware supply is finite. Proceed with caution.
Option 2: Move to a cloud phone system (UCaaS)
For small to mid-sized businesses — especially those with remote workers, multiple locations, or growth plans — migrating to the cloud is the most logical choice. Cloud UCaaS platforms such as RingCentral, Microsoft Teams Phone, Zoom Phone, 8×8, and Intermedia (which assumed control of NEC’s own UNIVERGE BLUE cloud solution in 2024) offer no on-premises equipment to maintain, automatic security updates, easy scalability, and predictable per-user pricing. Transitions from NEC to UCaaS have been performed successfully many times, and most businesses complete the process without meaningful downtime. Because Intermedia now owns UNIVERGE BLUE, your users may already be familiar with its interface.
Option 3: Transfer to another on-premises phone system
If your business operates in a regulated environment, has limited internet reliability, or your IT team requires local control, transferring to an alternative on-premises vendor such as Mitel, Avaya, Cisco, or 3CX may be appropriate. That said, most companies that believe they need an on-premises PBX do not actually require one.
Option 4: Implement a hybrid solution
Many businesses use migration as an opportunity to modernize incrementally — keeping on-premises components where needed while moving external lines and remote workers to the cloud. Forerunner is actively positioning itself as a resource for UNIVERGE 3C users considering this kind of transition.
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