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Tue, 27 Oct 2026

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 Landline switchover could cut people off in emergency, minister warned

Plans to switch to digital landlines by January could leave remote areas of the UK vulnerable, MPs say.

* Landline operators aim to complete digital switchover by end of January next year, citing a more reliable service
* MPs from remote areas express concerns about the move, as it does not rely on mains electricity and would leave people without phone or internet during power cuts
* Vulnerable customers are receiving back-up battery packs, but this is seen as inadequate for those in isolated areas with limited mobile signal
* Government minister Dan Jarvis says he will "look very closely" at concerns about the lack of a "back-up system" if digital phone services go down in emergencies.