Telephone Digital Switchover – what does it mean and how to prepare
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 22nd August 2024
BT and the Digital Citizen Panel produce an ALLIANCE Live podcast to share information and support vulnerable groups.
The switchover of the UK’s telephone lines to digital is underway with the whole landline telephone network being decommissioned and upgraded to digital by January 2027. It’s described as a ‘once in a generation upgrade’ which will connect everyone now and into the future with a “more resilient, sustainable and energy-efficient” digital phone service.
For most customers, the upgrade will be as simple as connecting your home phone handset to a router rather than the phone socket on the wall. But some customers will have additional needs to maintain a service, particularly if they: are elderly/landline only/have no network coverage/use technology enabled care at home.
In Scotland the switchover was launched in July 2024 and the ALLIANCE’s Digital Citizen Panel (DCP) engaged with BT’s Customer Engagement Manager, Sodhi Dhillon to learn more about how telephone service providers are promoting the switchover and supporting vulnerable customers to make the transition smoothly.
Members of the DCP: Dr Caroline Gould, Alex Barker and Geraldine Ward, along with Sodhi created an ALLIANCE Live podcast to discuss some aspects relating to their needs including: what happens in the event of a power cut, particularly in a rural area?; what engineering support will be available/from whom? and; how to access battery back up units/other solutions adapted to customers’ needs.
Watch the full video here:
Regardless of your telephone service provider the ALLIANCE is encouraging members to apply for priority customer service to ensure you receive the right equipment and technical help during the transition.
Some benefits of moving to the digital platform include:
- Keeping the same number, minimising impact on the customer
- 99% of phones will work on the Digital Voice platform
- Enhanced scam protect features, protecting customers from fraud
- Crystal clear call quality
- 3-way calling, connecting people with multiple family members or friends
For more information on the digital switchover:
Upgrading landlines to digital technology – what you need to know – Ofcom
End of page.
You may also like:
Social prescribing - Enhancing lives through dance health.
Continue readingRead on for our top 10 ways to get involved in Self Management Week 2025.
Continue readingThe 2025 edition of the annual State of Caring Survey is open until 10 August 2025.
Continue readingFind out more about the 31 projects that are being funded through the latest round of the Self Management Fund.
Continue readingThe UKPPLAB are running a series of four webinars over the summer to ask questions and have open discussions with their board members.
Continue readingScotland's national walking and wheeling charity has announced it has rebranded signaling a commitment to making Scotland more active.
Continue readingScottish Union of Supported Employment (SUSE) are developing an app for disabled people in employment.
Continue readingThe Working Together for change programme delivered by In Control Scotland is highly valuable to advance health and social care integration.
Continue readingKidney Care UK have published a new report revealing the significant social and emotional toll of living with kidney disease.
Continue readingEASE is an app for disabled people in employment. The app will connect disabled employees to support and resources.
Continue readingALISS has undergone some changes to improve accessibility and user experience. And, you can now subscribe to the ALISS newsletter too!
Continue readingPublication of visual resource in support of the Scottish Government's Women's Health Plan
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE publishes paper on supporting digital inclusion in primary care
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, speaks ahead of the final vote on the Care Reform Bill.
Continue readingMSPs should vote in favour of the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill, but transformational change in social care remains an urgent priority.
Continue readingApplications are now open for the next cohort of the Digital Health and Care Leadership Programme.
Continue readingALLIANCE members had their say on the development of Scotland's Service Renewal Framework.
Continue readingShare your views on how proposals to regulate non-surgical cosmetic procedures might impact you.
Continue readingFind out more about two accredited courses ran by Nutrition Scotland on diet, health, and wellbeing.
Continue readingPhase 2 of the FORTH2O Commissioning Fund is open and inviting applications until 4 July.
Continue readingIf you utilise NHS Inform as part of your job or work role, could you please share your views and experiences via the online survey.
Continue readingWe have extended the deadline for nominations to the Self Management Awards to 10am Wednesday 18 June.
Continue readingRead about our pre-conference webinar where experts discussed how austerity has reduced UK life expectancy and called for urgent action.
Continue readingFind out more about the DEAP and how you can apply.
Continue readingNew film shows how staff at Ninewells Hospital use “What matters to you?” to improve care.
Continue reading