Written Question·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·UIN 104626

Voice over Internet Protocol

Tabled: 12 January 2026

Answered: 21 January 2026

Question

Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of analogue landline services on public safety, given that Voice over Internet Protocol systems cease t

Answer

Kanishka Narayan

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) often relies on cables in the air that can fail during a storm. In 2024/25 there were over 2,600 major incidents on the PSTN, each affecting 500 or more customers. Further, in a power outage the PSTN would not ...

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