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<p>We recognise the importance of 999 and contacting emergency services as an essential
part of public safety and particularly so in rural areas. Therefore, the Government
works in partnership with operators, Ofcom and the Emergency Authorities to strengthen
the resilience of the Public Emergency Call Service, to ensure it meets the needs
of the UK public. DSIT works closely with the telecommunications industry and Ofcom
to ensure the sector remains resilient to all risks that may affect services, including
technological transformation. The Department also works together with the telecoms
industry through the Electronic Communications Resilience & Response Group to
agree methods to strengthen resilience and establish best practice across the sector.</p><p
/> <p>The analogue landline network, also called the Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN), is a privately-owned network. The ongoing work to upgrade it to digital voice
services is an industry-led process. The decision to upgrade the PSTN was taken as
the technology it relies upon is now outdated and prone to failure, with companies
finding it increasingly difficult to source the spare parts needed for repairs. The
upgrade process is currently ongoing and all consumers will be migrated to digital
voice services by 2025. <br></p><p>The Government also recognises the importance of
both fixed (landlines) and the mobile telephone network in the UK. In particular in
rural and isolated areas, for the elderly and other vulnerable users and customers
of technology enabled care services. We expect industry to ensure that all consumers,
including the most vulnerable, are protected and prepared for the upgrade of the PSTN.
DSIT receives regular updates from telecoms providers about the progress of their
migration and any emerging challenges they face</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom is responsible
for the monitoring and enforcement of any regulatory obligations as the providers
themselves are responsible. Communication Providers are required by obligations set
out in the General Conditions of Entitlement, made under the Communications Act 2003,
to ensure the continuity of access to the Public Emergency Call Service, via the telephone
numbers 999 and 112. Compliance with these obligations is monitored and enforced by
Ofcom</p><p> </p><p>In 2018, Ofcom published guidance on the measures telecoms companies
should take to ensure compliance with this General Condition in light of the industry’s
decision to retire the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and replace it with
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. The guidance states that in the event
of a power outage at least one solution must be available for consumers, providing
access for a minimum of one hour. The solution should be suitable for customers’ needs
and should be offered free of charge to those who are at risk as they are dependent
on their landline, because for example, they have disability or accessibility requirements
that mean they are more reliant on their landline and/or they do not have an alternative
method of calling emergency organisations (including those who own a mobile but have
limited or no mobile signal (on any network). These are minimum standards, and in
practice many providers are offering solutions which exceed them.</p>
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