Written question asked by Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 29 March 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 14 April 2023. It was answered by Viscount Camrose (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 April 2023 on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Voice over Internet Protocol
- Question
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To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the resumption by BT of the rollout of Digital Voice, what steps they are taking to ensure that BT identifies the residents qualifying under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
- Answer
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BT’s PSTN migration process is called the Digital Voice Program. Following their decision to pause their residential migrations in March 2022, BT announced this month their intention to restart their Digital Voice Program in Summer 2023. Since pausing, BT has taken several steps to identify and develop solutions for their customers. BT conducted a detailed internal customer analysis to identify at-risk customers which includes the chronically sick and disabled. These cohorts will receive additional support from BT during their migration process. BT’s planned restart will be prioritising customers with existing full fibre broadband services, little or no landline usage and no identified vulnerabilities.
Consumers who are landline-only customers won’t be required to take a paid broadband service from BT if they do not wish to. They will be provided with a dedicated internet connection specifically for their landline service at no extra cost. Customers without access to broadband or mobile coverage will still be able to use their landline for calls, but the technology that underpins it will be different. They will not be migrated to Digital Voice until they have the connectivity they need to make the switch.
Public call boxes or “pay phones” will also undergo the upgrade process. Pay phones will continue to work in the same way as they do today, but the technology which underpins them will change.
BT has created a Digital Phone Advisory Group which comprises charities and representative groups to advise on how best to support and engage with at-risk customer groups including the digitally excluded. When BT will migrate these customers, they will work closely with local authorities and other local stakeholders to help them make the move as effectively as possible.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- HL6987
- Session
- 2022-23
- Related items
- Grouped for answer
- Yes
- Subjects
- Voice over internet protocol
- Legislation
- Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
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Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2023-11-21 10:04:07 +0000
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