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<p>Government is committed to improving protections for those who depend on their
landline for connectivity. All signatories to the PSTN charter, agreed in December
2023, have committed to working to provide solutions that go beyond the Ofcom minimum
guidance. Ofcom guidance states that communications providers should have at least
one solution that enables access to emergency organisations, for a minimum of one
hour in the event of a power outage. Communication Providers are required to meet
standards and specifications set out in the General Conditions of Entitlement, under
obligations imposed by the Communications Act 2003, to ensure continuity of service.</p><p>
</p><p>Last year, DSIT asked Ofcom to consider how the general resilience of telecommunications
services in the event of prolonged power outages served the needs of customers. In
response, Ofcom launched a consultation on the resilience of the sector which included
a separate call for input on power backup for mobile radio access networks that closed
on 1 March. Ofcom is currently considering the responses.</p>
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