Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of switching off the Public Switched Telephone Network on the resilience of the telecare device network to power-cuts.

The department is aware of the potential impact that the upgrade of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) could have on telecare devices. Following the migration to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, it is possible some telecare devices may have compatibility issues with the new network and others may need digital adaptors to continue to function correctly.

In order to mitigate this risk, telecoms companies have established test laboratories to enable the manufacturers of telecare devices to test their equipment, ensuring it will work correctly following the transition to VoIP telephony, and to make the necessary arrangements to replace and adapt their technology if required. It is the responsibility of the telecare providers to ensure they have adequately tested their equipment.

Whilst the upgrade is an industry led initiative, DCMS and NHSx have been working together to facilitate communication between telecoms providers and the telecare sector to ensure telecare users are prepared for the upgrades.

Additionally, Ofcom has also issued guidance on how telecoms companies can fulfil their regulatory obligation to ensure that their VoIP customers have access to the emergency services during a power outage. This guidance was prepared following consultation with Ofgem and the industry, looking at data on the length and frequency of power outages among other factors.

As a response to complaints from customers, BT announced this week that it will pause the forced migration of customers to improve the awareness and understanding of customers, as well as to continue to develop industry best practice in coordination with the government convened working groups. For more information you can read the full announcement here.