BT has moved to reassure concerned residents that its ‘Digital Voice’ roll-out in the UK will “enhance” calls for customers after it announced that traditional landlines would be replaced in just under four years.
Previous reports suggested that the telecoms giant would be altering the way that people could interact with each other – including having phones that were internet-enabled and phasing out phones that could be plugged into the landline modem.
By the end of 2025, BT aspire to transition every household to the ‘Digital Voice’ technology and has already started converting some properties.
Read more: These County Durham residents aren't happy about BT axing landlines
Despite concerns being made from campaigners about the impact on rural communities, vulnerable homeowners and elderly residents, BT have now clarified their position on what customers can expect between now and December 2025.
This includes waiting until later in the roll-out programme to move vulnerable residents to ‘Digital Voice’.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the company told The Northern Echo: “We have only begun moving customers who already have a broadband connection in their home and have put measures in place to ensure customers flagged as vulnerable customers who do have BT broadband are not upgraded until much later in the programme.
“It’s worth noting that if any customer who is notified, they are eligible to be moved onto digital voice via letter or email has any concerns, they should speak to us and we will discuss their options which can include delaying their upgrade for a year, when other solutions may become available. We promise not to leave any customer without a connection.”
BT has also revealed that it’s currently investigating which areas of the UK feature in a ‘mobile not spot,’ which means that mobile connectivity is an issue.
This is to ensure that no resident is left without a phone signal if they’re in an emergency situation, including power outages, storms or a medical emergency.
Read more: BT face angry backlash from campaigners after axing landline phones
The spokesperson added: “We are urgently reviewing whether customers due to be upgraded to Digital Voice live in mobile not spots. If they are, we are looking to pause their upgrades.
“In tandem we are reviewing alternative technologies that could provide connectivity in mobile not spots during a power outage.
“In the meantime, emergency calls can be made on any mobile network available. If you’re a Vodafone customer but have no signal, you can still call 999 over an available EE / Three / O2 service where there is one.
“And of course, we’re part of the ongoing Shared Rural Network programme with Government that is extending coverage to 95 per cent of the UK by 2025. We announced new signal across 2000 locations in the UK last week, as part of that programme.”
Finally, the telecoms company confirmed to The Northern Echo that they’re working with Ofcom to ensure that residents without power are provided with a battery back-up that can last at least an hour. This will be given to vulnerable customers for free, according to BT.
The spokesperson concluded: “We are working to Ofcom guidelines to ensure there is at least one hour battery back up in the case of a power cut.
“We have put measures in place to ensure customers flagged as vulnerable or part of a vulnerable household will receive this for free. This will be a suitable solution for the majority of outages, which are short in duration. There are also available temp power options that people can buy to extend back up longer.”
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