British Telecom has announced they have no further plans to switch off analogue landlines.
The announcement will come as a relief for many homes, farms, and businesses in rural parts of the Isle of Wight with connectivity issues.
The CLA (Country Land and Business Association) – which represents Island farmers – has welcomed the news but warned many rural communities across the region are still suffering a connectivity divide.
Regional Director Tim Bamford has said:
“We are pleased that BT has listened to our calls to scrap plans to remove traditional landlines from homes and businesses.
“With many areas still struggling to receive basic mobile and internet connectivity, landlines continue to be a lifeline for many people in isolated communities.
“The answer to this is simple. If BT wants to scrap landlines in the long term, it needs to ensure every single part of the country is fully connected.
“Sadly, this aspiration feels a long way away for many rural communities. We call on BT to redouble their efforts to ensure full coverage for the nation, so that the social and economic benefits of modern technology can be felt in every village and every household.”
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Great news. There are many people who for various reasons would be unable to use mobile phones or the Internet. My elder elderly mother who has alzheimers for one. It would be physically impossible to teach her to use a different form of communication as her brain would not retain the information. The landline is literally her lifeline. We may be living in a computer age however it is high time that companies and councils stopped excluding the elderly when making their plans. It is discrimination.