Analogue Switch Off

A positive aspect of the current analogue phone services is that they continue to work in a power outage. That is not true of digital voice services. Ofcom, the regulator, have sought assurances from telecom service providers that those who do not have access to a mobile phone must not be left without a way to seek help in an emergency. Landline/broadband providers are responsible for additional protections to ensure customers can reach emergency services.

BT for example will supply vulnerable customers with a battery backup that will ensure digital phone services will work for an additional hour if any outage occurs and hybrid phones that can also work by transferring to a mobile network during a power cut.

The onus is generally on providers to identify customers who are reliant on their landline or are vulnerable.