Telephone services are moving to a digital service which is dependent on LOCAL electrical supply in order to operate. Traditional services operate using power from the telephone exchange meaning that at times of local power outage the new services does not operate leaving people unable to summon, or offer, help.
We feel that in light of the prolonged power outage following Storm Arwen BT Openreach should discontinue adoption of digital telephones as the sole means of communication, especially in remote areas.
We call on BT Openreach to ensure that traditional telephone services are maintained
We call on HMG to ensure that BT are required as part of the service obligation to provide traditional telephone services.