A PSTN switch-off awareness campaign has been launched by the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology, and the industry to call on the estimated 1.8million telecare users and their support network to get in touch with their landline phone providers so that they can access additional support.
Over two thirds of landlines have already migrated from copper to digital. A number of local authorities and private telecare operators have signed data sharing agreements with landline providers to identify as many telecare users as possible, and this campaign seeks to identify any additional users that may not already be captured.
The campaign builds upon existing work between the government and industry, including the voluntary PSTN industry charter and PSTN non-voluntary migration checklist, signed last year.
Minister Chris Bryant announced the campaign in parliament on the 2nd of June, sharing that it will include appearances in TV adverts, print, and community radio as well as translated scripts to ensure a broad reach. A website has been launched for the public to find out more here. In addition, consumer protection body Which? published an article about the topic, clarifying some frequently-asked questions from the public.