Critics warn of the impact of the changes on the elderly and vulnerable (Image: Getty)
A new petition against the forced switch from analogue to digital landlines has been signed by more than 12,000 people.
Silver Voices warned the change is “like a Damocles Sword” hanging over the elderly and vulnerable.
The charity fears the shift will lead to “tragedies” if emergency calls cannot be made as digital landlines need an internet connection and do not work during power cuts.
Director Dennis Reed said: “The success of our new petition shows the extent of concern there is about the personal safety of older people from being forced to take up unreliable digital telephones.
“Unfortunately, it seems that a weak government department has been browbeaten by the telecom giants into an agreement which is worse than the situation before the roll-out was paused on safety grounds.
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“The current plans are positively dangerous, and as night follows day further tragedies will occur involving older people, particularly during power cuts, when digital phones automatically go down.
“We asked for consultation on the new agreement before it was put into effect, but we didn’t even get the courtesy of a reply from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
“The new rollout plan is like a Damocles Sword hanging over older and vulnerable customers, they must just pray that the internet does not go down when they need to make an emergency call.”
Non-voluntary transfers from analogue to digital landlines were paused last summer.
But it was announced in November that they would resume “focusing on customer groups who are least likely to come to harm”.
Heather Foster, 71, from Suffolk, said she is “concerned” about the switchover.
She suffers from osteoarthritis and has a traditional landline in the lift at her home in case there is a breakdown.
She said: “I live on my own so if I’m in the lift and it breaks down and I can’t contact anyone then I’m a bit in trouble.”
On if there has been enough thought for older and vulnerable customers who may not use the internet or mobile phones, she added: “I don’t think there has been any consideration.
“I don’t think they’ve given it any thought at all to be honest.”
Communications providers are expected to complete the change for most customers by January 2027.