IP Voice testing 

 

++++IMPORTANT UPDATE: Openreach priority message to alarm users in trial areas of Salisbury & Mildenhall – important action++++        

Action is needed from alarm companies in the migration trial areas of Salisbury and Mildenhall, where signalling equipment MAY NOT work or is INCOMPATIBLE with the ALL-IP environment.

Openreach are reaching out to alarm companies to see if you would be willing and/or able to share with Openreach the end phone numbers of any customers with alarms, that need to be given special care if in case the lines were cut off.

The Openreach note reads: 

Openreach had previously intended to cease all remaining “in scope” copper assets (WLR only) within the Salisbury and Mildenhall trial areas in April 2023. By “in scope” we mean assets within the fibre footprint (Full fibre for Salisbury, Full fibre or a fibre alternative for Mildenhall) who have not had an exemption granted – for example where a key piece of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) will not work in an All-IP environment. Despite ongoing communications from our Communication Providers (CPs) to engage their customers, there are still a number of customers who have not responded.  We are therefore looking at ways to prompt end customers to have a conversation with their CP about next steps.  These include slowing the broadband speed, and / or routing non Freefone numbers directly to the CP.  Once CPs engage with their customers in Salisbury and Mildenhall they will either move them to full fibre (in Salisbury) or a fibre alternative (in Mildenhall) or, if alarm customers and they cannot move to an All-IP product, apply to us for an exemption (removing them from risk of cessation or service degradation). We are trying to further identify these alarm customers, which is why we are reaching out to you.

As per previous conversations, it is important that alarm customers (users of alarm devices) are not impacted by these changes.

We would be grateful if could you identify alarm users in the Salisbury and Mildenhall areas (identifiable by having a 01722 or 01638 telephone number dialling code). Clearly, we do not need sensitive name and address detail, just the customers telephone number. If you can share this information or have any queries, please send it to our ALL-IP enquiries email. 

ENDS

The transformation of the UK’s telephone service from analogue to digital voice is well under way with its target completion still set to be achieved by the end of 2025. The Openreach initial trials of the digital access network in Salisbury and Mildenhall paved the way for the ‘learning process’ ready for the full transformation to come.