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<p><i>Information from Liam McArthur MSP:</i></p>
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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.</p>
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As noted at the Forum last week and the slides available <a
href="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"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;">here</a>, <strong>BT
has pushed back the cut-off date for people to switch over</strong>
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.
</p>
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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.</p>
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Additionally, following concerns raised by some at the Forum about
<strong>how people with poor broadband speeds will be affected by
the switchover</strong>, 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.</p>
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<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
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. <strong>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, </strong>so
that they can take them into account. I have been assured that <strong>existing
telephone numbers should not require to be changed through this
process</strong>, so please let me know if you experience
problems in this regard.
</p>
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<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">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.</p>
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<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Looking ahead, as confirmed at the Forum last week, members of <strong>BT’s
Digital Voice team will be visiting the islands this summer to
meet with residents and answer questions</strong>. 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 <a
href="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"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;">here</a>.
</p>
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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.
</p>
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