Superfast broadband is now available to 58% of UK premises with deployment set to continue over the coming years.
Increasing numbers of UK consumers are signing up to superfast broadband packages (i.e. those that offer >24Mbit/s) in response to concerted efforts to raise consumer awareness. This allows them to take advantage of the media-rich content that is being offered, such as video streaming and gaming.
Superfast broadband can be delivered to customers in a variety of ways, but the focus of this statement is on 'fibre to the premises' (FTTP) networks, where optical fibre is deployed all the way from the local exchange to the customer's property. Although this is expected to result in the highest speed broadband capability to customers, optical fibre does have one intrinsic limitation with respect to traditional telephony.
A conventional telephone draws the necessary power for operation from the local exchange via the copper telephone wires, and as a result can continue to function even when there is a power cut at the premises. However, optical fibres are unable to support this arrangement as they do not conduct electricity.
The consequence of this limitation in fibre optic networks is that, if there is a power failure at the property, and absent any other measures being taken, the telephone will stop working. Hence calls, including calls to the emergency services, are not possible.
In practice, a back-up supply of power to ensure that calls can be made over optical fibre networks during a power cut is normally supplied via a battery installed at the customer's premises. The question that arises from solutions of this type is the length of time over which the battery back-up remains operational. It is on this question that we have recently consulted.
Given the expected growth in fibre optic networks over the next few years and in light of recent survey evidence that suggests that communications providers are adopting a mix of power back-up solutions in their current deployments, we believe that this represents an appropriate time to address this issue.
Our consultation therefore proposed the following principles, applying to both new-build and 'overlay' FTTP deployments:
- A battery back-up should always be provided to support publicly available telephone services (PATS) provided over FTTP.
- The minimum duration of the back-up facility should be 1 hour.
- Communications providers should take appropriate steps to ensure that the needs of vulnerable consumers requiring additional protection, who depend on 999/112 to a greater extent that the majority of the population, are addressed.
Overall, the responses we received can be divided into three broad categories: those that generally considered our proposals reasonable; those that argued for a higher minimum battery duration; and, those that argued that battery back-up should not be expected or if so, only on an optional basis.
The safety of human life represents an extremely important citizen interest and therefore is central to our consultation and subsequent guidelines. Having taken responses to our consultation into consideration, we remain of the view that the principles proposed above, and on which we consulted, are most likely to result in back-up facilities that customers will maintain over time and hence provide more effective protection. We are also of the view that it is practicable for operators to comply with these principles.
Therefore, for the reasons set out in this document, we consider that the guidance set out in the consultation document is appropriate and proportionate.
We recognise that we are at an early stage of FTTP deployment in the UK. We will keep this guidance under review, and issue revised guidance if that appears appropriate, taking account of market and technology developments.