Digital Inclusion (Iain MacInnes / Luke Horner)
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 December 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee — 6 December 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Classification: OFFICIAL PSTN switch off update What is the current advice/guidance? What solutions are being offered?
Page 2
Classification: OFFICIAL UK Government Guidance ● It is an upgrade to landline services to new digital technology using an internet connection (VoIP) ● It is expected to be complete by January 2027 ● There will still be the option for a ‘landline only’ service ● Your telecoms provider should contact you before the switchover to check in ● They are NOT switching off copper broadband, only analogue switching gear will be removed (Wi-Fi over copper cable will be unaffected). ● Specific questions on how the programme may affect you should be directed to your service provider.
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Classification: OFFICIAL Why the switch? ● The PSTN is increasingly unreliable ● 2023 saw 20% more service incidents than 2022 causing a 60% increase in lost service hours for users. ● VoIP is more resilient to severe weather as the cables are waterproof and less prone to damage in a storm ● VoIP can provide new, useful features that PSTN cannot. More details on these later.
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Classification: OFFICIAL Devices and services impactedThe following devices and services are potentially impacted, further information on how each of these could be affected can be found on the UK government website: ● Telecare ● Fire alarms ● Intruder alarms ● Lifts ● Door entry systems ● Fax machines ● Contactless payment systems ● Remote monitoring telemetry devices ● Specialist housing ● Care homes ● Schools ● Traffic management
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Classification: OFFICIAL Internet Service Provider Charter Communication providers must: 1. Not undertake any non-voluntary migration, until they have full confidence, they are taking all possible steps to protect vulnerable people through the migration process. 2. Not migrate Telecare Users without CP’s, the customer, or the telecare company confirming that they have a compatible and functioning telecare solution in place. 3. Work to provide battery backup solutions that go beyond the Ofcom minimum of 1 hour of continued access to emergency services in the event of a power outage. 4. Collectively work with Ofcom and Government to create a shared definition of ‘vulnerable’ customer groups that require greater support, specific to the digital landline migration. 5. Conduct checks on customers who’ve already been migrated to ensure they don’t have telecare devices we were unaware of, and if they do, ensure suitable support is provided.
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Classification: OFFICIAL Definition of vulnerable There have been 4 groups categorised as vulnerable; these are: Visual Impairment Hearing Impairment Registered Disabled Telecare user Should check with your manufacturer or provider of telecare devices if your devices will still work after the switch, or if you need to be sent an upgrade.
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Classification: OFFICIAL Telecare Data Sharing Agreement ● Argyll & Bute Council and HSCP entered into a data sharing agreement with BT ● Allows BT prior knowledge of customers that have Telecare and should not be migrated early ● Records will require updating on a regular basis
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Classification: OFFICIAL New Telecare National Action Plan Key Points: ● Non-voluntary upgrades will start on a smaller scale before rolling out more widely ● New approach also includes a requirement for companies to offer an engineer visit to vulnerable customers ● Pushing providers to deliver battery backup that can last “up to” 8 hours ● BT and Openreach are currently testing an additional phone line product
Page 9
Classification: OFFICIAL What will change / stay the same ● You can keep the same number ● 99% of phones will work on the VoIP platform ● New Features: ○ Enhanced scam protection ○ Clearer call quality ○ 3 way calling
Page 10
Classification: OFFICIAL It will be simple for most ● The switch should be as simple as connecting your home phone handset to your router, rather than the phone socket on the wall Unplug from wall socket ____________________________ Plug into router socket
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Classification: OFFICIAL Landline only customers ● Customers (of BT) who don’t want broadband will be moved onto a new "dedicated landline" service. ● Service will be available until 2030 to keep customers connected until switching to digital voice is viable. ● No engineering needed at home, all done at the exchange.
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Classification: OFFICIAL Power cut solutions ● Free to those in the Vulnerable group ● Hybrid Phones: ○ Home phone handsets that have built in batteries and switch to mobile signal in the event of a power cut ○ Only viable in homes with good mobile signal. ● Battery Back-up units: ○ Powers router and handset if power goes out ○ Should provide enough power for at least 1 hour of active use (Ofcom requirement) Examples of hybrid phone and BBU
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Classification: OFFICIAL Available on website with accessibility options to change language: The Digital Phone Switchover | Argyll and Bute Council
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Classification: OFFICIAL Mobile Mapping Update ● Recent press release on various platforms. ● Units will be installed onboard various refuse collection vehicles and will measure the coverage/speeds of the different communication providers as they drive their usual routes. ● Units have been delivered to Kilmory and are ready to be distributed to various depots. ● Will offer far more accurate data than Ofcom's assumed coverage map. ● Could be used to help judge suitability of vulnerable households for hybrid phones (or similar) solutions. ● Link will be available on council website when data is collected.
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Classification: OFFICIAL Any questions?