Digital calling for new BT customers only

Telecoms giant BT is taking the next step next week in the controversial launch of its so-called Digital Voice program – by phasing out old phone lines to new customers.

With digital voice, households will switch from traditional cell phones to new digital cell phones that are plugged into the power grid and require a broadband connection.

This autumn, it’s also targeting Londoners with the new technology. Phone users will need to connect digital adapters or a new handset to internet outlets and a power outlet if they want to continue making calls.

BT plans to connect at least 10 million homes to the new digital system over the next two years.

In total, 29 million households will have to make the switch to digital devices as part of a government plan to ditch old copper phone lines and instead make calls over the Internet using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

Everything is changing: With digital voice, households will switch from conventional mobile phones to new digital mobile phones

Most users won’t notice a change in sound quality, but critics have pointed out that if a power outage occurs, the new phone lines will stop working, leaving vulnerable households unable to make 999 calls.

Those who wear health tags at home may also find that the device no longer works with the new technology — and fire and intrusion detectors wired to emergency services phone lines also stop working.

BT was forced to put its initial rollout plans on hold last year after The Mail on Sunday revealed the new technology could leave people in remote areas feeling abandoned by a blackout.

It has since consulted with a “Digital Voice Advisory Group” and ruled that people over the age of 70 or those wearing a health tag would not be targeted for at least a year.