Traditional landlines set to be axed in next four years in major shake-up

The BBC has an article on this today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58233420

We have almost no mobile signal here and the best we get on the internet is 8mbps and it’s more likely to be 5mbps. There is no fibre BB here either. (Scottish govt has been promising to upgrade this area for years but every time the date gets close it gets kicked another two years down the road.)

welbeck

Pittcity, but doesn't this change mean that everyone will have to get an internet connection, many people don't have that, so it's extra money to pay.

I shouldn't think so. They'll have to change the infrastructure to hook everyone up. I'm sure we'll all be informed in due course. No point in worrying until then.

As our village often loses electrical supply we will be going back to the dark ages.

Pittcity, but doesn't this change mean that everyone will have to get an internet connection, many people don't have that, so it's extra money to pay.

MaizieD
Thank you for that.
I remember watching a program some time ago where they showed you the graphics worldwide with this “problem”
It’s was truly amazing.
I’m afraid to say that the majority of people are unaware of the cost, and I don’t mean hard cash, I mean environmentally.

MerylStreep

I can’t get the whole article but the first paragraph gives you an idea of how much electricity the internet uses.

fortune.com/2019/09/18/internet-cloud-server-data-center-energy-consumption-renewable-coal/

Thanks, Meryl

And what about this one?

science.time.com/2013/08/14/power-drain-the-digital-cloud-is-using-more-energy-than-you-think/

I'm sure that people are not reading the whole thread Alegrias1

There is no need to panic about mobile reception, power cuts, extra cost (although mobile phone contracts are better value than landline ones!) etc.

It is just how calls are delivered that's changing.
I have compared it to when the TVs changed to digital....the same TV only different!!!

I can’t get the whole article but the first paragraph gives you an idea of how much electricity the internet uses.

fortune.com/2019/09/18/internet-cloud-server-data-center-energy-consumption-renewable-coal/

I'm getting my excuses in quick MaizieD

Well I'm not responsible for defending the decisions made by the infrastructure provider

I appreciate that, Alegrias. I just wondered if you, or someone, might understand it better than I do.

As I said. I understand the advantages of digital. Just have those niggling worries about security and power supply.

MaizieD

Alegrias1

I have to go out MaizieD. So I'll go with a question...

How do you think the analogue phone networks we use today are powered?

I'm not being facetious but we need to look at our whole electricity usage across the board.

How do you think the analogue phone networks we use today are powered?

Well, I had thought of that, Alegrias, but I have absolutely no idea of what the comparative costs are and what the vulnerabilities of the analogue network are. I have never known the analogue network go down to such an extent that it disrupts thousands of phone lines; they seemed to survive all the 1970s power cuts without any bother. But take out a 'cloud' facility, or cut the power to it and you're talking about catastrophe...

I absolutely appreciate the arguments in favour of digital networks but we seem to be becoming dependent on technology of mind boggling complexity, coupled with people always ready, and able, to exploit any vulnerabilities for nefarious ends... this Cassandra isn't terribly confident.

But perhaps you can put my mind at rest

Well I'm not responsible for defending the decisions made by the infrastructure provider but in general digital systems are more efficient to run than analogue ones. They are certainly more fault tolerant and hence probably less likely to fail.

WRT the risks of being "taken out", I'd build redundancy into the system; maybe by having a mirror set of servers in a different location, probably in a different country.

I agree with PippaZ; our reliance on the internet is a bit like our reliance on the electricity grid. Its where we are now.

Did you mind our reliance on the Electricity Grid FarNorth? I can't see the difference although I would agree the internet provision could be improved.

25Avalon

I was advised, a few years back admittedly, to keep a landline phone ready to plug in and use in an emergency, in case the electricity was down or the mobile server was down.

That's exactly why I keep an old style non-cordless phone for the landline.

A power cut starting at a time my mobile battery is low could mean both the mobile and cordless landline being out of action.

I really don't like our huge reliance on the internet.

I only use a mobile to make calls. I have no contract for calls on the landline. I could ring out on it and would in an emergency but don't know what they would charge me for that. Only three people have the number. Two prefer to ring it. My daughter has it in case I leave the mobile in my handbag in the bedroom (and she panics)

I don't always dial a call on the mobile. I might use FaceBook Messenger (video or voice), WhatsApp Video Call or Zoom (for family meetings) on the phone or laptop or even Kindle.

However, I do need the phone line to have internet provision. I have no why BT are the only providers though; perhaps they aren't?

I'm just thinking of getting my TV via the internet using Amazon Fire Stick. That is going to take some instruction as I need to understand what I am doing

I quite fancy an Apple Watch (think Star Trek). When I told my DD she asked why and burst out laughing when I said "because it has a Fall Alarm". Technology is for the older generation; no one will convince me otherwise.

Alegrias1

I have to go out MaizieD. So I'll go with a question...

How do you think the analogue phone networks we use today are powered?

I'm not being facetious but we need to look at our whole electricity usage across the board.

How do you think the analogue phone networks we use today are powered?

Well, I had thought of that, Alegrias, but I have absolutely no idea of what the comparative costs are and what the vulnerabilities of the analogue network are. I have never known the analogue network go down to such an extent that it disrupts thousands of phone lines; they seemed to survive all the 1970s power cuts without any bother. But take out a 'cloud' facility, or cut the power to it and you're talking about catastrophe...

I absolutely appreciate the arguments in favour of digital networks but we seem to be becoming dependent on technology of mind boggling complexity, coupled with people always ready, and able, to exploit any vulnerabilities for nefarious ends... this Cassandra isn't terribly confident.

But perhaps you can put my mind at rest

Yes, we use our mobile phones via our BT broadband connection which is plugged into our landline. Only in a power cut is it necessary to go for a walk into the Village.
I can’t see that our Broadband will be affected without BT offering us an alternative.

I have to go out MaizieD. So I'll go with a question...

How do you think the analogue phone networks we use today are powered?

I'm not being facetious but we need to look at our whole electricity usage across the board.

Alegrias1

At the risk of repeating myself (and several otheres...)

It doesn't mean everyone will need a mobile.

It doesn't matter what your mobile coverage is like.

It's about the network behind how everything works, not about turning off your house phone.

Something new...."digital" doesn't mean "mobile"

EEEEK!

I need an explanation of how this digital network works, i.e the nuts and bolts of it.

I've read the BT pitch for it and this spooked me:
Many businesses have already embraced an all-digital model, moving their communications to the cloud ,

Well, 'the cloud' isn't some magical thing in the ether, it's huge banks of computers which run on electricity; thus creating a massive demand for electricity. How, in view of global warming, is this electricity to be produced and how will demand for it be satisfied? (I have noted concerns about the huge amount of computer power, and so electricity, is used for bitcoin mining, I'm assuming that these 'digital networks will be no different)

If the digital network is dependent on a physical resource (computer banks and electricity which is manufactured in a physical structure) surely it is ultimately vulnerable to physical destruction?

Is there anyone with more understanding of this able to explain it for me?

Oops Alegrias just skipped on past... sorry. I get it now.
Apologies all!

Deedaa

For some reason the mobile reception is very poor inside the house so I always use the landline if I'm settling down for a conversation.

Me too.
The internet can't reach everywhere in my home either. I still have a wire to the study where my "wireless" printer is plugged in.

At the risk of repeating myself (and several otheres...)

It doesn't mean everyone will need a mobile.

It doesn't matter what your mobile coverage is like.

It's about the network behind how everything works, not about turning off your house phone.

Something new...."digital" doesn't mean "mobile"

I would be surprised it wired connection to houses were stopped, a great deal of effort has been put into connecting fiber communications, so broadband service will remain.
The amount of data for streaming TV is immense is that all going to go mobile.

Maybe it’s just the phone option going, which means either use mobile phone, or Skype or FaceTime internet services

A lot of cars now have plug in socket for charging mobiles, tablets, children's game pads etc with normal phone charger.

Quite often whilst out and about on holiday or if I have forgotten charge my mobile I will charge whilst in the car.

It doesn't mean everyone will need a mobile.

It doesn't matter what your mobile coverage is like.

It's about the network behind how everything works, not about turning off your house phone.

We moved two years ago and I don’t even know my landline number. It’s stored in my mobile in case I need to use it, or someone asks for it. The only calls we receive on it are scam ones. Funny though, as a couple of my old landline numbers are used for alarm passcodes etc. Those I never forget!