If you’re among the two million people in the UK who depend on telecare alarms for safety, it’s crucial to contact your landline provider ahead of a significant change happening this year. Supported by the government, BT and Virgin Media are joining forces to alert landline customers about the nationwide switch from copper-based landlines to new digital lines that rely on broadband.
This shift is due to the UK’s increasingly unreliable and difficult-to-repair copper landline and internet connections being phased out in favour of fully digital voice and broadband services. However, vulnerable telecoms customers who depend on telecare alarms are advised to seek guidance on maintaining these essential services during the transition period.
Claire Gillies, BT Group’s Consumer CEO, said: “Moving customers onto newer digital services is a necessary step as the reliability of the 40-year-old analogue landline technology is increasingly fragile – therefore the time to act is now.”
Telecare alarms, typically buttons worn on a pendant or kept in a place in the home, send a call for help to emergency services or loved ones when pressed in an emergency. These devices usually operate by being hardwired into the copper landline network, and now BT and Virgin Media are taking measures to ensure people aren’t left without this service.
“The switch from analogue to digital landlines is being rolled out across the country as copper networks become increasingly unreliable and spare parts are no longer available,” announced BT and Virgin Media in a joint press release with the UK Government.
The release continued: “Putting safety at the centre of the switchover, landline companies will send an engineer to carry out the switchover and personally test the telecare alarm, ensuring it continues to work once a household has moved onto the digital network. Landline providers will also offer vulnerable customers with a free battery back-up device so their landline can continue working in an outage.”
Despite these major telecoms firms offering assistance, it’s crucial that telecare alarm users actively reach out to their landline providers to ensure help is dispatched, advised the Express. The government reports that over two-thirds of the UK’s landlines have already transitioned to digital connections, but this still leaves many thousands awaiting the switch.
Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “We cannot afford to leave anyone behind during the vital transition to digital landlines. I have personally set a strict checklist of safeguards for industry to comply with before they migrate any telecare user.”
He added: “This industry-led campaign marks a further step towards keeping people safe as we boost the resilience of our networks for the digital age. I urge anyone with a telecare alarm – or anyone close to a user of a telecare alarm – to pick up the phone and contact their provider to access the help that’s available.”
The government-supported awareness campaign targeting telecare users launched across various media outlets at the start of June, encompassing TV, radio, newspapers, and social media channels. Vital information will also be prominently displayed in locations such as GP surgeries, hospitals, pharmacies, and post offices.
Rob Orr, Chief Operations Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “This major new campaign marks a significant moment where 2 industry leaders have come together to raise awareness of the digital landline switchover. With traditional analogue landlines becoming less and less reliable, the programme is an essential step to safeguard services for the future. Inaction would mean putting services at risk.”
He added: “Our message is clear: if you or someone you know use a telecare alarm, pick up the phone and talk to your provider. Let us know, and we’ll support you every step of the way.”
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