MPs have raised concerns that the planned switch-off of the UK's traditional copper-wire landline network by the end of January 2027 could leave people in remote areas unable to contact emergency services during power outages. Unlike digital landlines, the analogue network does not rely on mains electricity and continues to function during power cuts. Labour MPs representing rural constituencies, including the Western Isles and the Lake District, warned that current backup battery provisions are insufficient and mobile signals often fail during storms.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis acknowledged these concerns and promised to address them at an upcoming government resilience summit. He emphasised the importance of telephone networks as critical infrastructure and said he would liaise with telecom firms and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The government maintains that the digital switchover is necessary due to the ageing and unreliability of the analogue system, and advises vulnerable customers to obtain free backup batteries from their providers.
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Source: BBC UK News. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.