Ofcom has developed new rules to protect Grameen phone boxes from getting clogged.
The UK telecommunications regulator said it would prevent British Telecom (BT) from shutting down phone boxes in areas with poor mobile signals if local communities require them.
Ofcom estimates at least 1,400 phone boxes in areas with good mobile coverage. This is less than its original estimate that the new rules would protect 5,000 phone boxes.
But it’s not clear how many phone boxes will be safe for other reasons. Ofcom said it would protect the packages in areas with a high frequency of accidents or suicides or where calls are being made to services such as Childline.
It said that as of May 2020, 25,000 calls were made to Childline and 20,000 to Samaritans. Meanwhile, phone boxes were used to make about 150,000 calls to emergency services in the same period.
A phone box will be saved if it fits one of the following criteria:
- It is located in an area that is not covered by all four mobile networks
- It is located in a room with many accidents or suicides
- More than 52 calls have been made from this in the last 12 month
- It is otherwise providing an essential service, such as being used to call Childline or Samaritans
Selina Chadha, Ofcom’s director of connectivity, said phone boxes “can still serve as a vital lifeline – perhaps to call a helpline or the emergency services – when no other options are available”.
She added: “Our new rules will ensure that many thousands of phone boxes will be protected for as long as needed.”