Getting Rid of Landline Phones
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Lets talk about scrapping landline phones...
The UK will be switching off the old copper network in 2025, meaning your house phone will need to be linked to the internet. Is it unfair on people like the elderly?
They have to move with the times as they say, me I don't see the point in getting rid of it but that's technology for you
Seems fairly unfair, I know 2 older people who don't have the Internet, and I'm not even sure they own a mobile they can switch to using in 2025.
I am having full fibre Broadband installed next week, so our landlines will switch to Internet protocol.
blacklabrador I would hope that if and when this happens they would have a family member or friend who could treat them to a basic mobile phone for xmas/birthday and within that gift lessons on how to use it until they were absolutely comfortable with it.
Lynibis not everyone has family etc who will do this..not sure if I will know how to get new phones to work vis internet and signals here often missing
The internet goes down and you have an emergency.Not soo clever.Mobile phones should be an option not a necessity.
I don’t think land phones should be scrapped they are more reliable than mobiles, no need to constantly put on charge.
Pjran There are landline phones which you connect the cable and they work, no electricity needed! In an emergency, they're excellent.
I did a history talk to a group of elderly people this week and of the 8 present not one single one had an internet connection.
As usual it is unfair on the elderly, just like all the banking moving online/phone. It’s ok if they are savvy or have family but what about all the people who have no support network. They will be cut off
jms19 Seems like the quality of life for many elderly is deteriorating what with landlines going which they may rely on and the end of high street banking in many areas. You also have bus routes being cut back so they cannot travel as easily. This is causing more of the elderly to be isolated. We know its more difficult to learn as you get older and many elderly people suffer from dimensia or pre-dimensia. Crime is rising too and often the elderly are the victims of such crime.
I'm unsure of what is going to happen to homes that currently just have a landline connection and want to continue that way.
jms19 . Even when it was a ' party line ' ( that phrase will confuse many ) haha!
People's home safety alert buttons rely on phone lines, what's going to happen to them?
Jinky67 yeah my mum has one, she hasn’t received any information from them at the moment. She hasn’t got the internet and doesn’t want and only has her state pension so I know the extra cost, (as if they’re doing all this work there’s no way BT will be reducing prices) is going to make her struggle even more
I simply think it's a sign of the times and you have to move with it. I'm sure there will is an alternative to operate lifelines, alarms etc . Regards of the house phone you can already buy what looks like an house phone but takes a mobile sim card which in many cases can work out cheaper than standard line rental anyway.
We have been on this new system for over a year now, probably nearer to two years. You don't get any option not to change but they do send you gadgets to attach to the phones to make them work (It was a maximum of 2 of these gadgets her household when we did it). When we have a power cut we are almost completely cut off because we don't have smart phones and our 'ordinary' mobile signal around here is abysmal to poor (never good!). It's a backward step by BT putting people at risk.
tumblespots agree ,quite awful, all these ways to force you into new tec...same here often power cuts and no signal on regular basis, scary to be cut off
Sarahvwomble As a technophobe it was a very scary time for me and we have yet to have a major power cut to feel really ALONE and disjointed.
Yes it is unfair, my parents (divorced) are both in their 70s and want nothing to do with the internet. They are disadvantaged already by not having it. Why should they now have to pay for broadband when they really don’t want it, they only have their state pensions.
The fact that BT Openreach a private company has ultimate control is wrong.
Very unfair. This will impact many people negatively and as we know, the internet doesn't always offer a reliable connection.
What happens when the internet goes down and your mobile is out of charge and/or credit? What then?
JLouM Satellite phone or an emergency walkie talkie? When landlines are officially dead, those are more or less the only options left and the majority of old folks won't be using either of those two options.
I think it is which is why I signed a petition against it www.change.org/p/save-our-landlines-save-lives
I do not think it’s a good idea. I have read other people’s comments and agree about the elderly and the extra expense for them.
eyeballkerry you all know I can be classed as elderly and until recently worked with staff all aged between 60 and 75. All my friends are late 50s up and many relatives the same. Every single one without exception has a mobile phone, even my 83 year old aunt. In fact, although I haven't asked, I don't think a single one has a landline so I do think they are becoming obsolete. I haven't had a landline for over 16 years.
I don’t use my mobile much. I prefer the landline and is more reliable. I’m also hard of hearing and find the mobile volume not loud enough whereas the land line is much clearer. I don’t want this change
It’s Very Unfair to the Elderly & anyone who does Not wish to have Wi-Fi or an iPhone!
I’m 51 and still have a landline. It’s back up for elderly parents. They also have landline. One is hard of hearing. They do have mobiles but they get so uptight, frustrated and frightened of them. We help them up to a point and they do quite well- but still need a landline.
Had to move over to cable earlier this year, they did not do a landline so it was a wrench losing the landline, but it was sentementill. But it does drop the monthly cost.
This is very unfair! but as usual nobody will listen to the public. Government, Electric, and broadband companies only listen to the £s nothing else. I dont think people should be forced into broadband just to communicate! This country has become well there are no words i can say politely.
Awful.Another ploy to get people to use mobiles so got can control us all.They have promised blackouts.Wifi goes down no mobile for emergencies. Yet an old phone landlines phone can still be used.Its about choice.Govt making sure we don't have any choice.
Well, I just reiterate most of the above. I am a disabled pensioner with no family, live alone and independent but I have 4 landline phones 3 of which are on the floor in case I have another major fall and can't get up, I do not want any alert system as I have had witnessed adverse experience i.e. asked a disabled person to go round and pick up an elderly disabled person off the floor as they didn't have any staff - so no thank you. I do have a mobile which I can never find, always running out and even if charged I could be dead and buried before I go through all the rig ma role to get an ambulance.
But by 2025 I may well be dead and buried so no need to worry.
MayReid agree sorry to hear about your fall, my dad kept falling at the the end of his life, last time was in night and had to call ambulance, they actually sent a lady from one of the fall alarm companies and she was good,but it's very pricey service ...mobiles are not reliable...your having several phones on floor sounds c good idea. I wish you all the best, afraid of falling myself now too , take care
We don't have a house phone. But my grandmother when I go their knowbody has internet signal. Their and were on ee, O2 and Vodafone . She depends on her house phone as is house bound, and contact with the world. So sad . I think the older generation will loose out on this one.
My father in law is elderly and doesn’t have broadband, he only has an old phone and struggles to even text! This will shut him off from us completely! NOT a good idea!
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