Agenda item

John Cooper, Strategic Programmes Manage, Digital and IT, will give a presentation on the transition from analogue to digital landlines by Openreach and to address concerns around resilience in the event of power cuts and/or major storms.

J Cooper, Strategic Programmes Manager, was in attendance to provide information on the national initiative, led by the telecommunications industry, to transition from analogue to digital landlines.  A copy of the presentation would be filed with the signed minutes and uploaded to the Council’s website.  The Committee were advised that the Council was not directly involved in this programme but had taken the decision to raise awareness with residents, businesses and community groups and signpost those with concerns to the relevant organisation for support.  The Council did not have access to switchover pans and timescales for individual communications providers.

It was explained that the new digital phone lines would use broadband network for calls and would allow new features to be used.  This would only impact residents who still had a landline and for the majority of users the switchover would be straightforward.  Residents would be contacted by their own communication provider i.e. BT, Sky etc.  However, there were approximately two million people across the UK who were more dependent on their landline and who may need additional support such as those living in an area with no mobile phone signal, vulnerable people with additional needs, users of healthcare alarms, elderly people and those who do not have a broadband service.   Whilst those who were dependent on their landline should not be being switched at the current time, the Council had been made aware of numerous examples within Northumberland where this has happened.  Residents who use their existing analogue lines for more than voice calls were also being encouraged to speak directly to their supplier. 

Members were advised that whilst a corded analogue phone line would work in the event of a power cut that digital lines required additional equipment requiring a power supply to work and therefore would not be able to be used for any calls.  Work was underway with the telecoms industry to try to mitigate the risks associated with this and some communication providers had committed to providing some equipment free of charge to certain more vulnerable or landline users, however there had been some examples within Northumberland of charges being incurred by residents in those specific categories.    

Those who were identified for switchover would be notified at least 28 days before the switchover occurred and at any point during that period any concerns should be raised with the supplier.  In some instances, a request could be made for the switchover to be delayed, however this could not be delayed beyond December 2025.

Concerns were expressed by Members regarding the vulnerability of broadband equipment being damaged and residents being left with no phone or broadband connections.  In respect of residents who did not have broadband advice was provided that there were phones available which had a router in the phone itself and the residents would only need a new handset.  However, it was stressed that it was important for residents to raise any concerns with the supplier before being switched as once this had happened then it was not possible to switch back to the analogue service.  It was highlighted that many people who had upgraded their service could have already been switched without realising.

Officers were thanked for their work and the efforts being made to raise awareness with residents.