Rural back-up concerns over digital landline switch

"We're going backwards", a rural estate manager has said ahead of the switchover from analogue to digital.

David Hill manages 5,000-acre Eling Estate, near Newbury in west Berkshire, and said he was concerned about a back-up plan after the switch from traditional landlines to broadband.

The government has said it is doing everything it can to help customers with the upgrade of the landline network across the UK, which is due to be completed by January 2027.

"In principle it's fine, the system works when it works," said Mr Hill. "The problem we have is that there is no back-up."

The switchover is an industry and government initiative that started in 2017, with an original deadline of 2025 for all landline calls to travel via broadband providers and not the current copper wires.

Mr Hill said of the estate: "When the power goes down, the internet goes down, which isn't uncommon in rural areas.

"You can't contact an ambulance, you can't contact family or staff."

He added: "We're going backwards. They're turning things off, not on. It's crazy."

The Country Land and Business Association, which supports landowners and rural companies, said it had "many, many examples of people complaining about poor phone signal or broadband".

Paul Ringer, CEO of Age UK Oxfordshire, said some people were "understandably nervous" about the switch, with devices like pendant alarms currently using analogue connections.

He said: "We recommend to speak up and get help, there's plenty out there. They don't need to feel alone.

"Things like checking compatibility, contacting your provider."

Phone companies are offering people help with the transition.

This includes free battery back-up units for landlines and telecare devices, talking with phone providers for vulnerable customers and offering potentially free engineer visits.

But Mr Hill said he believes "better rollout of mobile signal" was the solution.

"We need proper investment from phone companies to make good on their promise to the government for better phone signal," he said. "Until that's in place, you can't take away the fixed system.

"Mobile is easier, superfast broadband is great when it works. So mobile systems have to be the future."

Telecoms minister Sir Chris Bryant has said previously the government is "doing everything we can" to ensure people are connected.

Last month, it launched the Digital Landline Switchover Campaign, which calls for telecare users and their families to contact their landlines providers.

Sir Chris said: "We are requiring all communications providers to boost their safeguards, including providing free engineer visits and battery back-ups to those that need them."

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