Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging families in Macclesfield, Cheshire, to check that their home phones and any emergency alarms will still work during power cuts as the UK moves to digital phone lines, the service said in a briefing on 4 February 2026.
The country is retiring its century‑old copper Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and moving customers to digital voice services that run over a broadband connection (Voice over IP). The final national deadline for completing the switch is 31 January 2027, though many customers are being migrated in waves throughout 2026.
Unlike the old copper system, the new digital lines rely on a home router and mains power. That means a landline will stop working in a local power cut unless a battery backup unit (BBU) or an alternative resilient solution is fitted.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has highlighted the risk to residents who use telecare devices such as pendant alarms or fall detectors that link to a phone line; during a power outage, those devices may not be able to connect to emergency operators. The issue is particularly important in Cheshire East, where around 70% of households still keep a landline.
Local support and technical guidance are available through Digital Cheshire to help residents prepare for the transition. Regulators and national guidance (including NFCC and Ofcom advice) set expectations for providers to identify and support vulnerable customers during migrations.
Ofcom expects communications providers to offer a solution that enables access to emergency organisations for a minimum of one hour in the event of a power cut, and this is typically delivered by providing a free battery backup unit or an equivalent mobile‑connected solution for eligible customers. Note that providers’ definitions and evidence requirements for who qualifies as “vulnerable” can vary, so residents should contact their phone or broadband provider to check their options and arrange any necessary equipment or a home visit.
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