Murdo has encouraged Mid Scotland and Fife residents to visit BT roadshows about the roll-out of digital phones in communities.
He has been contacted by several constituents regarding the move to phase out the old, analogue landlines and replace them with digital ones, with the aim being to do so by the end of January 2027.
BT has said its ‘overriding priority’ is customer safety and supporting those with additional needs, such as telecare users.
Murdo hopes that this roll-out of digital phones will ensure communities such as those living in rural areas can feel sure they will not be left stranded, as happened in November 2021 when residents in the Glenshee and Strathardle areas of Perthshire were left without power and also any means of communication for days.
This followed the impact of Storms Arwen and Eunice which brought down trees in these areas and damaged fibre cables, leading to a loss of broadband and mobile phone coverage.
Commenting, Murdo said: “I would encourage residents, particularly those who live in rural areas, to attend one of these BT roadshows as it is vitally important that this roll-out of digital phones goes smoothly. The move to replace the traditional landline with a digital one is gathering pace and BT have said that they are introducing a new dedicated landline service for customers who don’t or can’t yet access broadband at home alongside their voice services.
“BT has also said that they won’t switch vulnerable customers until spring 2025 at the earliest, which is reassuring, and that they will provide free, additional support for vulnerable customers and for those who don’t have a mobile phone or live in areas with no coverage.”
Murdo continued: “We certainly don’t want to see a repeat of the horrendous situation that faced residents in Glenshee and Strathardle back in the winter of 2021. Not only were they without power but they were also without any means of communication as we found that a lot of people had moved over to voice over the Internet phone lines, they don’t have traditional land lines. They were relying on the mobile network, which was down because it had lost power.
“It was very fortunate that there weren’t any tragedies in these areas but this was only averted due to the many robust local networks which had been established through the pandemic, whereby residents knew where some people had been cut off and were able to support them. It is essential that rural communities feel safe in the knowledge they can phone to get help if we see similar storm damage again.”
The BT roadshows will take place at: Dobbies Garden Centre car park, Dunfermline, from 10am – 4pm on July 10 and 11; Morrisons car park, Kirkcaldy, from 10am -4pm on July 15 and 16 and Morrisons car park, Perth, from 10am – 4pm on July 17 and 18.
