Copper cutoff, no mobile signal and frequent electricity outages

[AH11]

I live in an area with no mobile signal (although other parts of the same village do have some mobile connectivity) and therefore have no mobile phone (just VOIP).
Power outages are frequent so that in the event of an emergency following copper cutoff, the only way to dial 999 would be to take a five minute walk (as was already the case for a neighbour during the last four-hour outage). 
I understand from Sky that "if you do not have mobile reception in your area,  your provider should give you a battery back-up so you're not cut off if there is a power cut". 
Could you please tell me what arrangements have been made for this by BT and how to register with BT where this will be the case.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@AH11 

Welcome to this user forum for BT Retail phone and broadband customers.

Are you a BT Retail Customer, or a Sky Customer?

[AH11]

I am a BT customer and the information came from: 

https://news.sky.com/story/how-will-the-landline-phone-switch-work-and-what-do-you-need-to-do-129512...

[36ULW]

Yes, BT can supply Battery Back Ups for DV in the event of a Power Cut.

[gg30340]

Even if you got a battery backup from BT, it would need to power your phone and your BT router and if you have FTTP it will also need to power the digital modem it would only last a couple of hours unless you are prepared to spend money on a more powerful Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS).

If you are having frequent power outages you should be complaining to your electricity company to get their service fixed.

[AH11]

"In the event of a power cut" does not sound not good enough. 

If there is a power cut and no VOIP or mobile phone signal, how can BT be informed of the power cut? Equally, by the time BT has delivered the battery backup in such a case, the likelihood is that the power cut will be over.

Given that:

1) my village and the local exchange is not on the Outreach list of planned works before the cutoff;
2) the address does not even appear on the drop down lists on the Open Reach site and has to be entered manually;
3) Openreach confirms that the exchange is not on its horizon;
4) There is no signal in my particular area, as confirmed by the image below which shows my road as being in the dead zone, and the fact that smart electricity meters cannot be installed for lack of signal,

surely this something that needs to be provided for in advance, not when there is a power cut.

Is BT setting up a site where people can/could register in advance of the cutoff?
5) We have had power outages almost every day this week (most of short duration but one lasting four hours)

[gg30340]

If BT were going to give you a battery back up it is supplied in advance when you have Digital Voice, it is not delivered when a power cut happens!

As stated, you and the others affected by the frequent power outages should be complaining to their electrical company.

As an aside, if you presently have a cordless phone I take it that you know it does not work in a power cut.

[AH11]

Complaints have been made to the electricity company but have so far not elicited any changes. 

Complaints have also been made about the lack of a mobile signal, including through BT and EE, but have likewise had no success. I was indeed charged for my mobile phone by BT until the end of my contract although I pointed out that I had no mobile signal so could not use it.

Surely two hours connectivity is better than none?

If BT cannot easily ascertain which areas do not have a mobil signal, should it not begin making arrangements for such areas by contacting customers or setting up a website where people can register for a battery.

[gg30340]

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@AH11 wrote:

Complaints have been made to the electricity company but have so far not elicited any changes. Complain to Ofgem and your local MP. Get as many people as possible t complain.

Complaints have also been made about the lack of a mobile signal, including through BT and EE, but have likewise had no success. I was indeed charged for my mobile phone by BT until the end of my contract although I pointed out that I had no mobile signal so could not use it. Did you never use it any where except in your home?

Surely two hours connectivity is better than none? Yes but only if your "emergency" happens in the first couple of hours and you have just stated that the last outage was for four hours. 

If BT cannot easily ascertain which areas do not have a mobil signal, should it not begin making arrangements for such areas by contacting customers or setting up a website where people can register for a battery. Not all areas are being moved over to DV at the same time. It could be a couple of years before your area is moved so hopefully by that time your electrical company have upped their game and supply a product that is fit for service. ie no frequent power outages.

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[AH11]

Complaints have been made to the electricity company but have so far not elicited any changes. Complain to Ofgem and your local MP. Get as many people as possible t complain.

We had not thought of Ofgem but will follow that up – thank you.

Complaints have also been made about the lack of a mobile signal, including through BT and EE, but have likewise had no success. I was indeed charged for my mobile phone by BT until the end of my contract although I pointed out that I had no mobile signal so could not use it. Did you never use it any where except in your home? 

Yes, from many different areas – some several hundred miles away, such as London, but the signals either do not get through or are so broken up that you cannot make sense of them.

Surely two hours connectivity is better than none? Yes but only if your "emergency" happens in the first couple of hours and you have just stated that the last outage was for four hours. 

If a longer than usual cutoff happens the electricity company will normally give an estimate of when the repair will be completed.  We can then ration battery usage to cover the need for phone coverage, if necessary by coming to an agreement with immediate neighbours.

If BT cannot easily ascertain which areas do not have a mobil signal, should it not begin making arrangements for such areas by contacting customers or setting up a website where people can register for a battery. Not all areas are being moved over to DV at the same time. It could be a couple of years before your area is moved so hopefully by that time your electrical company have upped their game and supply a product that is fit for service. ie no frequent power outages.

My understanding from Outreach is that all copper will be switched off by December 2025 to the whole of England, irrespective of the area.
Both BT and EE refuse to acknowledge the lack of signal although they are welcome to come and try for themselves.  They are indeed continuing to sell Halo to my elderly neighbours despite the lack of signal although they are forced to take a walk if they want to use their mobile, with the end result that most of them do not even bother to charge their mobiles and therefore rely on their landline.
I would also point out that the electricity grid is unable to keep up with current demand let alone the planned switch to electricity.  I gather that there is a waiting time of some ten years for new wind and solar generation sites.  Improvements to a rural supply are therefore unlikely for some considerable time to come.

I therefore reiterate my request that BT consider arrangements for mobile blackspots such as mine and ensure that the information is made available to those in need and particularly the elderly.