Chris calls for safeguards to protect residents after rural residents cut off during Storm Amy
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Chris has urged BT to strengthen the rollout of its new “Digital Voice” system after residents across rural areas were left unable to make 999 calls during Storm Amy.
Over the weekend, power cuts left rural areas without electricity or mobile signal for long periods of time. Because BT has moved customers from traditional copper landlines to the new internet-based Digital Voice system, many households were unable to make or receive calls, even in an emergency.
Chris said:
“Digital Voice has real potential to improve call quality and reliability in normal conditions, and I understand why BT is modernising its network. But these incidents show there must be a robust backup plan for when the power goes out.
People need to know that they can still call for help in an emergency. A system that fails at the very moment it’s most needed is not fit for purpose. Rural communities like ours are used to the lights going out from time to time, but being completely cut off should never be part of that.”
Residents have also raised concerns about the cost of battery backup units, with one constituent from Callander saying BT told them they would need to pay £149.99 for a battery backup system which would provide only an hour of service during a power cut.
Chris says that protection for households must not depend on who can afford it:
“BT should ensure that all customers, particularly older people, those in rural areas, and anyone who relies on landlines for contact with family or carers, have access to a reliable and affordable backup solution,” Chris added. “This is about safety, not convenience.”
Chris has written to BT and relevant government ministers to ask what steps are being taken to guarantee uninterrupted access to emergency services during future outages.
If you have been affected by the digital voice rollout or experienced communication issues during Storm Amy, get in touch. Click here to fill out the contact form.
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