Ofcom says it has concerns over Virgin Media's actions to protect vulnerable customers.
Ofcom is investigating Virgin Media over its compliance with rules to protect vulnerable customers during the digital switchover.But the regulator has concerns about how it could impact some people, for example those with telecare systems that rely on landlines.But it said other parties must also take responsibility.
The telecare systems typically work by having an emergency button which automatically calls the emergency services when pressed via a user's landline. It is feared that will change when telecare services are switched to digital lines, which could be vulnerable to power outages or internet drop-outs.Rules around taking necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted access for customers to emergency organisationsIn December, telecoms firms agreed to pause forcing customers on to the new digital phone network following a number of "serious incidents" involving the failure of personal telecare alarms.
"A critically important function of the telephone network is to allow people, particularly vulnerable people, to contact the emergency services," the statement said.