Some landline services may rely on a fixed copper line connection, and can be affected by a change of service type, or be interrupted in the event of a power outage.
Voice Service
As more consumers are moving to fibre services, home phone and landline connections are also being upgraded. Check out our factsheet for a quick and easy guide to understand more about the copper network changes.
Existing copper fixed line connections transitioned to either Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) on the copper network or installed over a fibre connection rely on an underlying broadband internet service in order to function. In the event of a broadband service interruption, such as a power outage, your phone service will not function, unless you have a battery back-up service. This means you will not be able to make any calls, including to emergency services.
Your service provider will be able to recommend an appropriate battery back-up service so that your VoIP phone will continue to function in the event of an emergency.
It is also recommended that you have access to a charged mobile phone that you can use during a power outage.
Medical Alarms and other phone services
Services such as medical alarms, monitored security alarms and on-demand television services rely on a fixed phone line connection, if they are not delivered over a mobile network.
If you switch to fibre, these services may be impacted. Before switching to fibre, please check each of your services with your individual service providers, and with your telecommunications provider, to ensure their continued operation.
Your service providers will be able to confirm whether your equipment will continue to function over a fibre connection, or whether you will need to upgrade or replace them. You may consider a wireless medical alarm for example, which uses the mobile phone network instead of a wired connection.
If you need help with the ongoing costs of rental and monitoring for a medical alarm Work and Income may be able to help you pay for this as part of a Disability Allowance. Find out more.
Remember, if there is a power outage, none of your services that rely on your fibre or VoIP connection will function, unless you have a battery back-up service.
It is also recommended that you have access to a charged mobile phone that you can use during a power outage.
