News: BT and VMO2 launch Digital Landline Switchover awareness campaign with DSIT
Communications Providers BT and VMO2 are joining up with the government Department for Science Innovation and Technology to launch a national awareness campaign with telecare users at the heart of the move to digital phone lines. The campaign calls for the estimated 1.8 million telecare users and their support network to get in touch with their landline phone providers so that they can access additional support.
The campaign builds on the voluntary industry Charters signed by Communications Providers (Measures to Better Protect Vulnerable Users, December 2023) and a checklist put in place by Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant to safeguard telecare users before they are moved to digital landlines (PSTN Non Voluntary Migration Checklist, November 2024).
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.
techUK has over the past few years been committed to bringing together communication and digital infrastructure providers to raise awareness of the digital phone switchover program. Working collaboratively with industry and other partners is the key to ensuring that all are aware of the roles they need to play to ensure a smooth and minimally disruptive retirement of the analogue telephone network.
As the current PSTN system becomes increasingly unreliable - with faults rising 45% in 2024 – we need to ensure a swift transition to a digital network fit for the future. “With many other countries and many million of UK households having already completed the migration, it is essential to raise awareness and complete this move. We are proud to support VMO2 and BT as well as the UK Government as they establish this important campaign and we look forward to continuing to work with the telecoms sector and other parties to ensure the delivery of a safe and sustainable switch.
For further information please see the Digital Phone Switchover website.