HEREFORDSHIRE is due to switch from its landline service soon.

Locals will be invited to change from a landline service to a digital one in the spring of next year, ahead of the complete landline switch-off planned for 2025.

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This comes as part of BT’s Digital Voice changeover plan, an effort to modernise the telephone service in the UK by entirely replacing the analogue system with a new broadband system.

For most people, the only noticeable change will be having to plug their current home phone into the back of their internet hub or needing to use a new digital phone.

The plan has caused some concerns, however, as those living in the county’s rural communities where there is no or variable mobile signal may be negatively affected.

The change will also impact Herefordshire’s ageing population as, according to Age UK, around 95 per cent of those over-65 still have a landline in their home and may not necessarily have a broadband connection or access to a computer.

Earlier this month, the Rural Services Network Chief Executive, Kerry Booth, said:

“We know that some parts of rural England don’t get mobile coverage, so people rely on their landlines.  If the worst should happen during a power cut, these communities wouldn’t be able to call for help from the emergency services.

“Thankfully, RSN has been working with BT to mitigate these situations.  We will continue to campaign to ensure rural areas are not financially discriminated against due to a failure from central government to ensure they have access to reliable connectivity.”