I think your approach shows a lack of understanding of the true implications of the cutoff and of the power outages now threatened each winter by the grid.
Why does the copper network need to be cut off?
- Because it is no longer fit for purpose.
- The solution: to cut it off.
- Timeframe: December 2025.
Why do local electricity grids keep failing?
- Because they are no longer fit for purpose.
- The solution, to upgrade the grid.
- Timeframe: Some 15-20 years, at a minimum.
- Reason: because grid upgrades cannot keep pace with increasing electricity consumption (see https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/04/uk-must-build-power-lines-faster-to-get-backlog-...).
This is also backed up by the fact that the grid threatened power cuts last winter and is still offering incentives to people to only use electricity out of peak times and has not ruled out power cuts this winter.
Currently windfarms and solar arrays face a 10- to 15-year wait to connect to the power networks (see https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/04/uk-must-build-power-lines-faster-to-get-backlog-...).
So yes, the problem is the grid and is likely to be so for the next 10 to 20 years.
And given that, power cuts are inevitable and particularly in rural areas if the supply to urban areas is to be protected:
- Power outages mean no VOIP;
- Power outages therefore require mobile connectivity;
- No mobile signal means no connectivity of any kind;
- No connectivity means putting people's lives seriously at risk in the event of a medical or other emergency;
- Rural areas and particularly rural villages have the highest proportion of those aged 65 and over.
(See Government statistics at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1028...);
- Rural areas are those most likely to be hit by power outages;
- Premises in rural areas have just 47% mobile coverage indoors according to the government's own statistics (see https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN07069/SN07069.pdf);
- 53% of rural areas are therefore at risk in a power outage, the majority being over the age of 65;
- Those over the age of 65 are those most at risk of a medical emergency, particularly in a power outage.
The figures therefore speak for themselves.
That being the case, I reiterate that prior to the cutoff BT needs to make provision for the 53% of rural areas that do not and will not have mobile connectivity.
Or is BT prepared to wash its hands of all liability for deaths resulting from an inability of a significant proprotion of the country to contact emergency services in an emergency situation such as a power cut?
With regard to your earlier comment:
- The fact that it might be possible to use a mobile signal if one travels to another area is irrelevant if you cannot phone home from that other location because signal fragmentation on reception makes the call unintelligible.
- Nor is is relevant if an emergency call needs to be made from a home with no connectivity.
Furthermore, no thought has been given to those who cannot see well enough to operate a mobile phone.
I hope that I have now made my point a little more clearly and that BT will actually begin to consider the wider implications of leaving populations without an emergency battery.
