[Stronsaylimpet] BT digital switchover of landline services

[Limpet editor]

/Information from Liam McArthur MSP:/

Further to my previous emails regarding the ‘digital switchover’ of 
landline services and last week’s Digital Forum, I thought it worth a 
brief update highlighting some of the accommodations being offered by BT 
as it rolls out the new digital landline system, as well as the public 
engagement sessions BT have planned for Orkney this summer.

As noted at the Forum last week and the slides available here 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/86387863/477740839/1271916451?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogImI3NDNlNDAwLTIyMjQtZWYxMS04NmQyLTYwNDViZGQ5ZTA5NiIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=KmIkYUZ5ahxFiSWubmGexsto-WmZnhBB7oIuD5hNzBg=&emci=c75d66b3-2024-ef11-86d2-6045bdd9e096&emdi=b743e400-2224-ef11-86d2-6045bdd9e096&ceid=397233>, 
*BT has pushed back the cut-off date for people to switch over* to the 
digital system to January 2027, and has paused the switch-off of the 
analogue ‘copper wire’ network until then. BT has also paused the 
rollout of vulnerable customers to the new system until at least spring 
2025, to ensure that telecare systems are not disrupted by the change. 
The have pledged that Openreach engineers will attend any property with 
a telecare device and make sure that the device still works after being 
switched over, and to move the property back to the analogue system if 
there are any issues.

BT have also confirmed that ‘landline only’ customers without broadband 
connection will be offered a hybrid ‘pre-digital’ landline, which will 
be available as a stopgap measure until 2030 to allow time for these 
properties to be set up with a broadband connection. They have also 
pledged to provide additional support and to work with network providers 
to improve ‘network resilience’ in terms of power backups for individual 
properties and mobile masts in areas at greater risk of power outages.

Additionally, following concerns raised by some at the Forum about *how 
people with poor broadband speeds will be affected by the switchover*, 
BT have now clarified that if you do have a broadband connection but 
experience poor speeds, you could be provided with either an additional 
line to your property for landline or to set up a digital phone service 
over the mobile network through their Home Phone Connect system, which 
will be available from next year.

However, BT and other providers have already started to ‘migrate’ some 
people over, and have indicated that more customers should expect to be 
switched over later this summer. *If you have any concerns about your 
ability to switch over, either in terms of the quality of your broadband 
connection or the reliability of mobile connectivity in your area, I 
would strongly encourage you to make your landline provider aware of 
these issues, *so that they can take them into account. I have been 
assured that *existing telephone numbers should not require to be 
changed through this process*, so please let me know if you experience 
problems in this regard.

If you’re a BT customer and you have any questions, concerns, identify 
as vulnerable, or would like to raise any additional needs you may have, 
then you can contact them directly at 0330 1234 150.

Looking ahead, as confirmed at the Forum last week, members of *BT’s 
Digital Voice team will be visiting the islands this summer to meet with 
residents and answer questions*. They’ll be in Orkney Library & Archive 
on Tuesday 23 July from 2.30-6pm and Wednesday 24 July 10am-2pm, and 
will be available for ‘community stakeholder’ briefings and one-to-one 
meetings to offer details on their plans and respond to concerns. All 
are welcome, so I would encourage you to head along if you are able and 
you have any outstanding questions about the scheme. The full list of 
engagement sessions is available here 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/86387867/477740888/-856080957?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogImI3NDNlNDAwLTIyMjQtZWYxMS04NmQyLTYwNDViZGQ5ZTA5NiIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=KmIkYUZ5ahxFiSWubmGexsto-WmZnhBB7oIuD5hNzBg=&emci=c75d66b3-2024-ef11-86d2-6045bdd9e096&emdi=b743e400-2224-ef11-86d2-6045bdd9e096&ceid=397233>. 


Finally, concerns were raised at the Forum that those in the smaller 
isles might not be able to make it along to the planned events in Orkney 
Library. I have discussed this again with BT at a meeting in parliament 
earlier today and asked for plans to be developed with local ‘partners’, 
including Development Trusts, Community Councils, HIE and the Council to 
see if ways can be found to ensure advice and support is readily 
available within each community as the switchover moves ahead. I will be 
speaking to the Council about this again shortly and will keep you updated.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://stronsaylimpet.co.uk/pipermail/stronsaylimpet_stronsaylimpet.co.uk/attachments/20240606/93633e13/attachment.htm>