Should i opt to accept ‘Digital voice’ option?

HP_Source

Well currently most people i know use wireless telephones which need power to operate or have no landline phone at all.

So in the event of a power cut they wouldn't be able to use their landline even with PTSN anyway.

Well said, it's a point often overlooked by many people.

Our home phone is VOIP and to overcome this issue both the router and ATA are powered from a small ups. I've simulated a power cut by unplugging the ups from the mains and it's kept things running for several hours.

littleboo

Richard_T_ said:

No issues with online banking etc, as that wouldn't be a life or death situation, however in a power cut , particularly a longer power cut its impossible to call emergency services such as fire, ambulance etc, or even call for help.
The whole system needs looking at for resilience .

PTSN was built with several layers of back up, including back up power, with VOIP/digital Voice all of this at present doesnt exist.

The simple fact is no power, no phone calls, no ability to call for help

What do you think should happen, given that the whole world is moving to full fibre networks, which require active electronics at the customers premises? 

[Deleted User]

Richard_T_ said:

No issues with online banking etc, as that wouldn't be a life or death situation, however in a power cut , particularly a longer power cut its impossible to call emergency services such as fire, ambulance etc, or even call for help.
The whole system needs looking at for resilience .

PTSN was built with several layers of back up, including back up power, with VOIP/digital Voice all of this at present doesnt exist.

The simple fact is no power, no phone calls, no ability to call for help

What if your telephone line gets cut in a storm because a tree had knocked the line down?

No backup, no phone calls, no ability to call for help.

A mobile phone is a much more resilient option, already battery powered, will work on any available network for emergency calls, you can have it close by unlike a fixed line phone.

What if you fall in the bathroom and break your leg and can't crawl across the house to get to the landline phone? If you have a mobile phone then you can call emergency services from your bathroom floor. Even better have an Apple watch and it will do it automatically if you knock yourself unconscious when you fall over.

I'd say all the modern alternatives to landlines are far safer, practical and reliable in an emergency situation.

Richard_T_

The main issue with mobile phone use in a power cut, is  that the phone masts rely on mains power.

 Some have battery back up, but within about 10-15 minutes of a power cut  the masts all go down as well.

 Vodafone, EE, Three, O2  - nothing, no signal on any of them and even when the power comes back on again it can take another 15 - 30 minutes before the mobile signal returns .

The only way Ive managed to get calls out ( and in) is via a corded phone , and then using the contacts on my mobile for a phone book.

 Quite a few people  - and almost all older people i know in the area have corded phones still plugged in even if they mainly use cordless land line phones due to power cuts that have wiped all but corded phones out.

 

Even the Met office weather warnings contain the line " Power cuts may occur and other services, such as mobile phone, may be affected"

 

HP_Source

I think this argument is reaching its end, with entrenched views on both sides. The only further thing I will add is that all lines will be some variant of VOIP by the end of 2025.

Richard_T_

Voip is comming, but as said, you should stick to copper while you can for voice calls for all the reasons ive mentioned, plus keep an old  corded phone plugged in as well as your cordless handset.

 Until youve been in a powercut where all mobile networks have also gone down with the power, then its hard to get an understanidng of where we are and just how vulnerable the digital voice system is.

 

armith

Yes, a resilience plan is a good idea, I've still got my corded phone from decades ago as a fallback (it's even got the original number - Swaton 339 - marker-penned onto it). But when the house is plunged into total darkness in the middle of winter I have found that it's more important to have a few LED-push battery lights and plenty of torches, candles & matches to hand. And a wood-burner. And a gas hob. And... etc

The main "problem" I've got with digital voice is the cost - when it's possible to get FTTC broadband and all-inclusive calls for around £20 it's a tough ask to move to DV. The best mitigation for this is probably Wi-Fi calling if the mobile signal isn't great.

jon81uk

Richard_T_ said:

Voip is comming, but as said, you should stick to copper while you can for voice calls for all the reasons ive mentioned, plus keep an old  corded phone plugged in as well as your cordless handset.

 Until youve been in a powercut where all mobile networks have also gone down with the power, then its hard to get an understanidng of where we are and just how vulnerable the digital voice system is.

 

As above, won't be an option, the copper wire will stop working come 2025. Need to move to VOIP or mobile.

J_B

jon81uk said:

As above, won't be an option, the copper wire will stop working come 2025. Need to move to VOIP or mobile.

Do you really think so?

There are five houses in our 'city' nothing else for over a mile.

Next farm paid (allegedly) £120K to have dedicated FTTP line

Cerberus quoted us £13K

We can't get FTTC

Will OR put us a green cabinet for just five houses using a mile of cable, or two if they have to take it right back to the village exchange?

I'm not holding out any hope!

Fidden

J_B said:

jon81uk said:

As above, won't be an option, the copper wire will stop working come 2025. Need to move to VOIP or mobile.

Do you really think so?

There are five houses in our 'city' nothing else for over a mile.

Next farm paid (allegedly) £120K to have dedicated FTTP line

Cerberus quoted us £13K

We can't get FTTC

Will OR put us a green cabinet for just five houses using a mile of cable, or two if they have to take it right back to the village exchange?

I'm not holding out any hope!

Copper switch-off for 2025 has been coming for a long time.  I expect it'll drag a year or so past that target with Covid getting in the way, but it will happen.

For the outliers, it'll be satellite (avoid if you can), 4G/5G mobile or wireless broadband (2G/3G will be turned off to make more room for 4/5) or FTTP to the house where economically viable.

Was that £13k for the 5 houses, or just yours?