Fears for the elderly as BT are set to axe traditional landline phones

Millions of the UK's elderly and vulnerable households face being isolated in a digital revolution of BT's landline service.
Pensioners groups have criticised the move by BT to force all homes online amid concerns for those people who rely on traditional landline phones to communicate.
BT's digital changeover, which will come into effect in 2025, will see the traditional handset replaced by a new 'digital' phone, which is powered by electricity, that relies upon the internet for calls to be made.
But Jan Shortt, general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention, said: "If there is a power cut, this digital phone line will no longer work - and a potential lifeline for elderly people will be suddenly lost.
"Those needing to make an emergency call or raise an alarm via a health pendant could be left stranded - and unable to call anyone to ask for life-saving support."
Around six per cent of households - roughly 1.5 million homes - do not have access to the Internet, according to watchdog Ofcom.
Those homeowners may need an engineer to visit them to get them set up and those with older phones could need to buy a new handset.
But experts fear millions more do not have a mobile phone or do not know how to use one properly.
Ms Shortt said: BT has no idea that many older people do not want a fancy smartphone or cannot afford one - and rely on their landline as a lifeline. It is wrong to discriminate against those - primarily the elderly - who are not wired up to the internet.'
Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, said: "Given that about half of older people over the age of 75 are not online, this could be a particular problem for our oldest citizens."
Ofcom has stressed that telecoms providers have an obligation to ensure these households have access to emergency services, which may be fulfilled by providing a free mobile phone to customers.

[@paulhicks8982]

I know people from there late teens to their 90s who don't have any internet connection. They mostly rely on their land lines. A few have mobile phones but these are all so called dumb phones no intetnet acess. Several have said if BT turns off there land lines they will do without (which for those without a mobile phone I think is dangerous). This isn't just the older people a number of the younger people. They don't have internet because cost, difficulty/no experience, and that they just don't want anything to do with the internet . Bt is going to have to rethink and come up with solutions. As I fear they could be sued if someone dies because their landlines was disconnected.

[@melgrant7404]

BT is trying to make more money

[@malcolmdale]

HORRIBLE music. UGH, one thing over and over.