Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of switching off the Public Switched Telephone Network in 2025 on rural areas with poor broadband connectivity.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services (the Public Switched Telephone Network’s replacement) require a minimum stable connection speed of just 0.5Mbps in order to function correctly, and voice-only services will still be available to consumers in the UK who do not wish to purchase a general internet connection. Thus, even in the small number of rural areas with poor broadband connectivity, the migration will not have an impact on most consumers’ ability to use digital landlines.
More importantly, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration does not affect the universal service obligations set in the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 which require the designated providers to offer telephony services throughout the UK. BT and KCOM are therefore still required to maintain access to a range of telephony services as well as provide a series of special measures designed for users who have a disability.
As a response to complaints from customers, BT announced this week that it will pause the forced migration of customers until new products are available that provide greater power resilience. For more information you can read the full announcement here.
Whilst the upgrade of UK landlines from the PSTN to VoIP technology is an industry-led initiative, the government and Ofcom are working together to ensure consumers and sectors are protected and prepared for the upgrade process.
As of September 2021, 99.6% of premises in the UK were able to access a decent broadband connection from either a fixed or a fixed wireless access broadband connection. Properties without a decent broadband connection may be eligible for a connection under the broadband Universal Service Obligation. The Government is also investing £5bn as part of Project Gigabit to ensure the hardest-to-reach areas in the UK receive coverage.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of switching off the Public Switched Telephone Network on the resilience of the telecare device network to power-cuts.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The department is aware of the potential impact that the upgrade of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) could have on telecare devices. Following the migration to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, it is possible some telecare devices may have compatibility issues with the new network and others may need digital adaptors to continue to function correctly.
In order to mitigate this risk, telecoms companies have established test laboratories to enable the manufacturers of telecare devices to test their equipment, ensuring it will work correctly following the transition to VoIP telephony, and to make the necessary arrangements to replace and adapt their technology if required. It is the responsibility of the telecare providers to ensure they have adequately tested their equipment.
Whilst the upgrade is an industry led initiative, DCMS and NHSx have been working together to facilitate communication between telecoms providers and the telecare sector to ensure telecare users are prepared for the upgrades.
Additionally, Ofcom has also issued guidance on how telecoms companies can fulfil their regulatory obligation to ensure that their VoIP customers have access to the emergency services during a power outage. This guidance was prepared following consultation with Ofgem and the industry, looking at data on the length and frequency of power outages among other factors.
As a response to complaints from customers, BT announced this week that it will pause the forced migration of customers to improve the awareness and understanding of customers, as well as to continue to develop industry best practice in coordination with the government convened working groups. For more information you can read the full announcement here.