Voice over Internet Protocol: Power Failures

(asked on 9th January 2024) - View Source

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the digital landline rollout, what discussions she has had with industry stakeholders on (a) assessing whether and (b) ensuring that residents have access to enough mobile signal to rely on a mobile phone in instances of power cuts.


Answered by
Julia Lopez Portrait
Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This question was answered on 15th January 2024

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is a privately-owned telecommunications network. The migration is industry-led and does not result from any government decision or form part of any government programme.

Ofcom is responsible for ensuring telecoms providers adhere to their regulatory obligations throughout the migration process, such as ensuring uninterrupted access to the emergency services and protecting vulnerable consumers. Ofcom has published guidance which states that providers must take steps to identify and protect at-risk consumers who are dependent on their landline.

On 14 December, the Secretary of State for DSIT, Michelle Donelan, convened a meeting with the UK’s leading telecoms providers, including Sky, BT, VMO2 and TalkTalk, to discuss urgent steps to protect vulnerable households when upgrading phone lines to a digital network. In response, the major telecoms providers have now signed a Charter committing to concrete measures to protect vulnerable households. Communications Providers have agreed to pause forced migrations unless all possible steps are taken to protect vulnerable consumers, this is a positive step to ensure safety remains at the heart of this migration.

In order to function correctly, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) requires a minimum stable connection speed of just 0.5Mbps. These speeds are available to more than 99.8% of premises – the remainder can usually request a connection through the Broadband Universal Service Obligation. Current landline-only customers can order a VoIP landline without purchasing a general internet connection. For consumers in rural areas who are landline-dependent due to limited mobile coverage, it is the responsibility of Communications Providers to ensure their customers have access to telephony services.

The Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published in April 2023, set out the steps we will take to ensure that all parts of the UK have the wireless connectivity they need to unlock opportunities for growth and prosperity. The Strategy sets out a policy framework to encourage mobile network operators to continue investing in 4G and 5G networks. It emphasises our commitment to extending 4G coverage to 95% of the UK’s landmass through the Shared Rural Network and sets out a 10-point plan to support rural connectivity. Alongside the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, we also asked Ofcom to improve the accuracy of its reporting of mobile network coverage.

The resilience of the UK’s fixed and mobile telecoms networks is of paramount importance. The Secretary of State asked Ofcom to review the general resilience of telecommunications services in the event of prolonged power outages. In response, in December 2023, Ofcom launched a consultation on the resilience of the sector that includes a separate call for input on power backup for mobile radio access networks. We await the outcome of the consultation.

For consumers who are landline-dependent, Ofcom has placed the obligation on Communications Providers to provide at least one solution that enables access to emergency organisations for a minimum of one hour in the event of a power outage in the premises. This solution should be suitable for customers’ needs and should be offered free of charge to those who are at risk, including consumers who have no mobile signal. Communications Providers have also pledged to this commitment in DSIT’s Industry Charter.

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