Concerns that thousands of older and vulnerable people in Norfolk could be put at risk because traditional telephone lines are to be axed have been raised in Parliament.
Phone providers are moving customers from analogue to digital technology between now and December 2025.
Copper lines used for landlines will be switched off and people will need to have and use a broadband connection for their telephones.
Some technology people use, such as alarm lines and sensors, are linked to the landlines - so are likely to need upgrading.
And James Wild, Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, raised the issue in the House of Commons this week.
He said asked technology secretary Michelle Donelan what steps her department was taking to make sure vulnerable customers are supported with the switchover.
She said: "Telecom providers have now signed a charter, committing to concrete measures to protect vulnerable households.
"This is a positive step by industry to make sure that safety continues to be at the heart of the nationwide switchover."
Mr Wild said: "A concern about the new digital network for vulnerable people in North West Norfolk who rely on personal alarms in emergencies is loss of service in a power cut.
"Will my right honourable friend ensure that those welcome new protections deliver robust back-up plans in such circumstances, and that they are clearly communicated to customers?"
Ms Donelan said: "As part of signing up to the voluntary charter, the main communication providers have promised to work towards providing more powerful back-up solutions that go beyond Ofcom's minimum requirements."
READ MORE: Norfolk County Council concern over phone landline switch
In most cases, people don’t need to do anything until their provider tells them their telephone service is changing.
However, people dependent on a landline telephone, or a service that relies on it, such as a telecare device, personal alarm, or burglar/fire alarm, ought to check with the provider of the service.
When the switchover happens, it may be as simple as plugging phones into a broadband router rather than the socket on the wall.
But, once the old telephone connection is switched off, people who do not have broadband, but want to keep having a landline, will need to pay for a broadband connection.
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