Latest news with #BTOpenreach
Daily Record
29-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Warning for anyone still using landlines in huge change affecting 137 UK areas
More than 100 towns and villages will be affected by the change. A warning has been issued to anyone still using a landline in the UK. A huge change is coming to dozens of areas across the UK that will see them stop working. Landline users have been put on alert ahead of the major shake-up, with 137 locations in Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to be affected. The landline network is being upgraded from analogue to digital by providers, meaning that phone calls will be carried via a broadband connection rather than through copper wires, Birmingham Live reports. BT Openreach has announced the latest areas on its Stop Sell list, 137 in total. Among the Scottish locations confirmed are Annbank, Lockerbie, Eskdalemuir, Hawick, Pencaitland, and Ulva Ferry. Openreach's managed customer migrations manager, James Lilley, said that move is "critical" to keep the UK communications network ready for the future. He said there was a focus on getting people across the UK using "newer, future-proofed technologies" due to the "decline" in the copper wire system. Lilley said: "The Stop Sell programme is a critical part of ensuring that the UK's communication infrastructure is ready to meet the demands of the future. "Taking advantage of the progress of our Full Fibre build and encouraging people to upgrade where a majority can access our new network is the right thing to do. "It makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old copper network and our new fibre network running side-by-side. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "As copper's ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future-proofed technologies." The full fibre upgrade is triggered when users switch service providers or upgrade their broadband or phone service. Certain providers may also move blocks of consumers in some areas to full fibre. This will help them with qualifying for volume discounts and as they find that the reliability of full fibre reduces support costs once the upgrade is live. Full list of 137 new UK locations of the Stop Sell list Glarryford Aghadowey Pomeroy Clogher Fintona Dromore/Tyrone Drumquin Ashby De La Zouch Freeland Adderbury Broomfield Woodham Ferrers Framingham Newhaven Sacriston Hoghton Penrith Dalston New Brancepeth Annbank Newton Stewart Ballingry Lockerbie Chudleigh Milford Haven Bala Llandrindod Wells Stourport Fernhill Heath Kessingland Teversham Silsoe Saint Faith Great Dunmow Girton Dymchurch Shildon Whitley Bridge Whaley Bridge Pencaitland Durrington Romsey Plymstock Midsomer Norton Forden Alsager Haslington Dyserth Sandbach Stonehouse Hengoed Amlwch Pershore Menai Bridge Llandovery Manningtree Dickleburgh Chestfield South Milford Dolgellau Avebury Lockeridge Newton Tracey Ogbourne St George Sandon Llanbedrog Llanfrynach Eskdalemuir Long Bredy Berriedale Sanday Llandyrnog Dolwen Dolgarrog Chapelton Pennyghael Ulva Ferry Buckland St Mary Bishopswood Hawick Tottington Eastwood Purfleet Locks Heath Hook Felling Southbourne St Austell Stubbington Lynemouth Starcross Loughborough Easton Wolverhampton Ashford Uxbridge Woodford Smallbrook Wood St Aylesbury Ingleby Barwick Leytonstone Stockton Sutton In Ashfield Washington Worle Darlington Holmfirth Bedford Goscote Bishops Cleeve Wolviston Armthorpe Barnwood Desborough Coppull Trentham Sale Hexton Appley Bridge Manningham Stoke City Warsop
Scotsman
24-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Road closures bad for business
Anyone living in southwest Edinburgh must wonder how much more roadwork chaos it's possible to create, says Sue Webber In a recent column I argued that a system of fines was needed to bring utility companies to heel for their complete disregard for the needless disruption their road closures cause when no work is being done. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As if proof was needed, just last week there was clear evidence of the impact it can have, thanks to the utterly cavalier attitude of BT Openreach, whose workers erected temporary traffic lights on Lanark Road West in Currie for cable installation. The work is supposed to take five working days and the lights went up last Wednesday, when work was carried out for two hours. No work was conducted at all on Thursday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The section of road affected was right outside the local butcher who got in touch to let me know that he had lost valuable business, with no less than 50 fewer customers than the previous Thursday. That can't be down to the holiday season because the Trades started the week before. Yes, workers turned up on Friday, but of course the road was blocked all weekend and the last time this happened, because of work by a different utility company, the business lost thousands. It will be the same for every business on a high street affected by roadworks and the utility companies and their contractors don't give a stuff. Near Tollcross, a long stretch of Gilmore Place has been needlessly cordoned off for so long that local businesses use it as a van park. Fines and guaranteed compensation are the only way to deal with this.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hotel still without phones and wi-fi after storm
A family-run hotel and wedding venue near Dumfries has been left without phone and broadband access for almost three weeks, after being hit by Storm Éowyn. The owners of Mabie House Hotel say they are losing business because potential customers cannot easily get in touch with them. Phillipa Carson said they were initially told the communications would be restored imminently but they are still waiting to be reconnected. BT Openreach said a fallen tree damaged a pole and part of the overhead network and engineers were working to restore the service as soon as possible. The hotel lost power for about 24 hours when Storm Éowyn hit on 24 January, forcing them to turn guests away and throw away a large quantity of food. When power was restored the following day, staff realised the phones and wi-fi were not working. The hotel's telecoms provider diverted its phone number to Ms Carson's personal mobile but it is resulting in a lot of missed calls. The venue normally has three booking and inquiry lines but now, with just one phone to receive calls, some customers are just hearing an engaged tone. And when Ms Carson calls them back from her personal phone, she said some customers don't pick up as they do not recognise her number. "We had someone phone up just on Monday asking 'What's going on? Why are you shut? We've been phoning, trying to get through to you' and they've not realised. "We've tried to call back and they've not answered. They were wanting to book lunch on Sunday and they didn't. "They wanted to make sure they were ok to come next Sunday which we able to book them in for, fortunately. "But yeah, we're definitely losing business." 'Survival mode': Storm Éowyn left us without power for six days New images show scale of storm impact on forests Ms Carson said it was also inconvenient for people staying at the hotel on business as they were unable to check their emails during their stay. "We explain the situation but it almost seems like we're making it up," she said. And the increased use of data on Ms Carson's phone is racking up additional costs for the business. An Openreach spokesperson said: "A falling tree damaged one our poles and part of the overhead network, affecting services for around 11 properties. "The pole will need to be reseated or replaced, with new cable installed. "Our engineers are working to carry out the works as soon as possible. We're sorry for the disruption this is causing." They said the storm caused substantial damage to the network but the majority of people were back online. The spokesperson added: "We know how frustrating it is to lose your broadband and phone services, and we're working as fast as we can. "But the reality is that some repairs, like pole replacements, are very complex and do take time."
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Our hotel has been without phone and internet since Storm Éowyn
A family-run hotel and wedding venue near Dumfries has been left without phone and broadband access for almost three weeks, after being hit by Storm Éowyn. The owners of Mabie House Hotel say they are losing business because potential customers cannot easily get in touch with them. Phillipa Carson said they were initially told the communications would be restored imminently but they are still waiting to be reconnected. BT Openreach said a fallen tree damaged a pole and part of the overhead network and engineers were working to restore the service as soon as possible. The hotel lost power for about 24 hours when Storm Éowyn hit on 24 January, forcing them to turn guests away and throw away a large quantity of food. When power was restored the following day, staff realised the phones and wi-fi were not working. The hotel's telecoms provider diverted its phone number to Ms Carson's personal mobile but it is resulting in a lot of missed calls. The venue normally has three booking and inquiry lines but now, with just one phone to receive calls, some customers are just hearing an engaged tone. And when Ms Carson calls them back from her personal phone, she said some customers don't pick up as they do not recognise her number. "We had someone phone up just on Monday asking 'What's going on? Why are you shut? We've been phoning, trying to get through to you' and they've not realised. "We've tried to call back and they've not answered. They were wanting to book lunch on Sunday and they didn't. "They wanted to make sure they were ok to come next Sunday which we able to book them in for, fortunately. "But yeah, we're definitely losing business." Ms Carson said it was also inconvenient for people staying at the hotel on business as they were unable to check their emails during their stay. "We explain the situation but it almost seems like we're making it up," she said. And the increased use of data on Ms Carson's phone is racking up additional costs for the business. An Openreach spokesperson said: "A falling tree damaged one our poles and part of the overhead network, affecting services for around 11 properties. "The pole will need to be reseated or replaced, with new cable installed. "Our engineers are working to carry out the works as soon as possible. We're sorry for the disruption this is causing."They said the storm caused substantial damage to the network but the majority of people were back online. The spokesperson added: "We know how frustrating it is to lose your broadband and phone services, and we're working as fast as we can. "But the reality is that some repairs, like pole replacements, are very complex and do take time."
