Stuart Anderson, South Shropshire’s Conservatives Parliamentary Candidate, is raising awareness about the ‘Digital Switchover’ which will see industry upgrade the landline network from the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), delivered over copper wires, to new digital technology using an internet connection (fibre-optic cables) such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Digital Voice, or All-IP telephony.
The new digital phone lines will allow providers to offer clearer and better quality phone calls, as well as new features such as anonymous caller rejection or three-way calling. The decision to upgrade the PSTN was taken as the technology it relies upon is now outdated and prone to failure, with companies finding it increasingly difficult to source the spare parts needed for repairs. The upgrade process is currently ongoing and all consumers will be migrated to digital voice services by 2025.
For the vast majority of consumers and businesses, this change has been and will continue to be straightforward. For those who already have an internet connection, the change may be as simple as plugging the phone into the broadband router rather than the socket on the wall.
Telecoms companies will contact their customers ahead of the switchover. Nobody will have to lose their landline service because of this change, as there are still options for a ‘landline only’ service. Telecoms companies will also continue to be bound by the same regulatory obligations as they are today.
Stuart’s work to raise awareness of the switchover follows serious incidents of telecare users having their devices fail when trying to use them after the upgrade. The UK’s leading telecoms providers, including BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone, Shell Energy, KCOM, and Zen Internet, have signed a Charter committing to concrete measures to protect vulnerable households when upgrading phone lines. This includes:
1. Providers will not undertake any non-voluntary migrations to digital landlines, until they have full confidence that they are taking all possible steps to protect vulnerable people through the migration process.
2. No telecare users will be migrated to digital landline services without the provider, the customer, or the telecare company confirming that they have a compatible and functioning telecare solution in place.
3. Where battery back-up solutions are provided, providers will work to provide solutions that go beyond the Ofcom minimum of 1 hour of continued, uninterrupted access to emergency services in the event of a power outage.
4. Providers will collectively work with Ofcom and Government to create a shared definition of ‘vulnerable’ customer groups that require greater support, specific to the digital landline migration.
5. Providers will conduct additional checks on customers who have already been non-voluntarily migrated to ensure they do not have telecare devices they were unaware of, and if they do, ensure suitable support is provided.
Stuart Anderson MP said:“The digital switchover delivers a modern network that is secure, efficient, and fit for the future, with better quality phone calls. I want to ensure that nobody is adversely affected by the switchover to new digital technology, including the small number of rural areas which have limited digital connectivity. Although the switchover is industry-led, the Government has secured concrete measures to protect vulnerable families, who should notify their provider so they can advise how this will affect them.”
Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:“The safety of vulnerable customers comes before anything else and that’s why I called on the industry to listen to concerns and take action to make sure the right protections are in place. I welcome more telecoms companies joining forces to make this a priority, meaning we now have agreement from those responsible for our telecoms infrastructure and those providing mobile and broadband services. This will provide much needed reassurance to those relying on these vital devices and I will continue to pressure organisations to do everything in their power to make sure the switchover is seamless and safe.”
The upgrade of the UK’s telephone lines is not a government programme and does not result from a government decision or policy. Questions about how the upgrade might affect individuals should be directed service providers. The Charter can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-switched-telephone-network-charter. The Government has published a webpage to increase public awareness and provide guidance at www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-from-analogue-to-digital-landlines. Ofcom, the independent regulator, has issued guidance on how to prepare at www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/future-of-landline-calls.
