Ofcom is investigating Virgin Media over its compliance with guidelines to guard weak prospects throughout the digital switchover.
The telecoms business is at present altering landline providers from analogue to digital.
But the regulator has considerations about the way it may affect some folks, for instance these with telecare methods that depend on landlines.
Virgin Media mentioned it was working carefully with Ofcom and the federal government.
But it mentioned different events should additionally take accountability.
“While telecoms companies like us have a crucial role to play in this switchover activity, it’s essential that telecare companies and local authorities also step up and meet their responsibilities to ensure everyone receives the support they need,” a spokesperson mentioned.
The telecare methods sometimes work by having an emergency button which robotically calls the emergency providers when pressed through a person’s landline.
At current, they proceed to work even throughout energy cuts as a result of conventional copper cellphone strains are usually unaffected by a lack of electrical energy.
It is feared that can change when telecare providers are switched to digital strains, which may very well be weak to energy outages or web drop-outs.
The communications regulator says it needs to look into Virgin Media’s compliance in two areas:
- Rules round taking vital measures to make sure uninterrupted entry for patrons to emergency organisations
- Rules on the truthful remedy of weak prospects
In December, telecoms corporations agreed to pause forcing prospects on to the brand new digital cellphone community following quite a few “serious incidents” involving the failure of non-public telecare alarms.
On its investigation into Virgin Media, Ofcom mentioned in an announcement that it had “been clear” with telecoms corporations that they have to establish and assist the weak.
“A critically important function of the telephone network is to allow people, particularly vulnerable people, to contact the emergency services,” the assertion mentioned.
“Therefore, any action, or inaction, taken by communications providers which disrupts consumers’ ability to reach these services is of the utmost seriousness,” it added.
The regulator mentioned it could publish additional info on the progress of the investigation sooner or later.
