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MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE

This Ofcom website checker.ofcom.org.uk/mobile-coverage supplies information by postcode on voice and 4G coverage for the four major providers EE, O2, Vodafone and Three

Some areas of the village have poor reception and it is possible  to operate your mobile phone over your broadband link via VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). This website provides further information on this service -  www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/guides/internet/internet-phone-voip-offers.

There are also certain hardware solutions which can enhance mobile reception in the home, such as 'Femtocell', please click here for a clearer explanation. 

BROADBAND COVERAGE and AVAILABILITY

This Openreach website www.openreach.com/fibre-checker/my-products supplies information by postcode on broadband availability.  At present, Standard and Superfast (Fibre to the Cabinet) is generally available in the Village and Ultrafast broadband (Full Fibre or 'Fibre to the Premises') is, according to Openreach, installed for at least 80% of our homes in the Village - evidently they have met their stated objective of 80% of the homes in our Village and have moved on now to other villages.  If your house is one of the unlucky 20% without Full Fibre you might wish to escalate your desire both directly to Openreach and also through your broadband provider.

Further information on suppliers, future plans. etc can be found by visiting www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/where-when-building-ultrafast-full-fibre-broadband

RETIRING THE COPPER

The aim is that, by the end of 2025, all telephone services that currently use the copper network will be switched over to operate using VoIP technology – “Voice Over Internet Protocol”, to give it its full name.  These digital “fibre” networks use fibre optic cables instead of copper wires to transmit your telephone calls and internet traffic far more efficiently, enabling additional services to operate. The old copper wire network to the street cabinets will be switched off.  Fortunately this does not mean that everyone will immediately require Full Fibre connection - for those without Full Fibre, the copper wires from the street cabinets to the homes will remain live until Full Fibre is available.

PRESS HERE for a comprehensive report on what this will mean for us all.  Openreach have an obligation to ensure that every household will have the capability to retain their traditional landlines after this switch-over date BUT landlines will require broadband services to operate - some changes will inevitably be required for many households.  PRESS HERE for some recent research by Uswitch which provides examples of concerns people have for this transition.

It is your phone provider's responsibility to migrate you to VoIP as painlessly as possible and give you all the equipment required.  If it doesn't, you should complain to Ofcom at www.ofcom.org.uk/complaints/complain-about-phones-or-internet-services.

BT has announced that it intends rolling out Digital Voice in our region in the Autumn of 2023PRESS HERE to view the media release and to see who it will impact.