Consumer Scotland has written to the UK Government highlighting an increased risk to consumers in Scotland as UK landlines go digital – particularly those living in remote rural communities.
The current UK landline telephone network is reaching the end of its life and needs to be upgraded.
By the end of 2025, most people currently using a traditional landline will be migrated to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology – which uses a broadband internet connection instead of a standard telephone line.
Unlike traditional corded analogue phones, a digital phone will only work in a power cut if it has a battery back-up. This will result in an increased reliance on the mobile phone network as an alternative means of making calls during any power cut.
Consumers in remote rural parts of Scotland are more likely to rely on their landline for calls and to experience more long lasting and frequent power cuts - and can experience poorer mobile signal coverage.
They are also more likely than consumers elsewhere in Scotland to have additional devices such as healthcare alarms attached to their landline. Some consumers may be still reliant on traditional networks for services or additional devices such as door entry or CCTV systems or fax machines.
Consumers who are 65 years and older and those with low levels of digital literacy are also more vulnerable to the effects of the digital switchover.
In a letter to Julia Lopez, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Consumer Scotland has recommended the UK Government initiates a national campaign to improve information for consumers.
The campaign should focus on groups who have a high dependency on their landline and low awareness of the migration to allow them to prepare properly for the changeover.
The letter from Consumer Scotland Chief Executive Sam Ghibaldan states:
"Although for most households the migration .. will be straightforward, there are risks for consumers and we have identified disproportionate risks for consumers in Scotland, particularly those living in remote rural areas.
“Consumer Scotland recommends the UK Government initiates a national campaign to improve information available to consumers with a focus on groups who have a high dependency on their landline and low awareness of the migration.”
Consumer Scotland has also written to Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack and the Scottish Government’s Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade Richard Lochhead to raise awareness of the issue and emphasise the need to ensure co-ordinated action across governments.
Background
Letter to Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology Julia Lopez
Letter to Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack
Letter to Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade Richard Lochhead
Established under the Consumer Scotland Act 2020, Consumer Scotland is a Non-Ministerial Office, independent from government and accountable to the Scottish Parliament.