Victory for landline campaign as switch to digital faces delay

CAMPAIGNERS marked a major victory as it emerged the move to replace land- lines with digital services could be delayed by at least two years over fears for older people’s safety.

BT has warned ministers that it will not meet the target of transferring phone customers to the new network by the end of 2025.

Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan had demanded action from network operators after serious incidents where “telecare” devices – personal alarms activated in a health emergency or after a fall – failed because of digital landlines.

BT and rival Virgin Media have paused their rollout of the lines.

The Government is now in talks with BT about a new timeline for the switchover.

An estimated 1.8 million people in the UK rely on personal alarms for urgent medical help. The majority use BT’s network. The digital service, which will replace traditional copper analogue landlines, is more liable to failure when there is a power cut or another network disruption.

Over-60s group Silver Voices has campaigned for a delay to the switch.

Director Dennis Reed said of the decision to delay the move: “This will bring the mass transfer programme to a grinding halt, and not before time.

“Having previously argued the December 2025 deadline for scrapping all traditional copper landlines was sacrosanct because the old system was worn out, miraculously they now appear to be accepting that the process can take a few years longer.” He added: “Instead of risking the lives of vulnerable older people through a rushed programme with insufficient safeguards, they should have listened to us in the first place.”

It is understood Virgin Media, which is migrating a smaller number of customers than BT, will restart the process in the next few weeks on a voluntary basis.

BT said that it was “working closely” with the Government and regulator Ofcom to continue the digital landlines programme but wanted to support vulnerable customers and those with other needs.

The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology said the Government has no “formal role” in administering the switchover.

Deciding timelines to complete it was a matter for providers, it added.