Technology advancements to strengthen the digital infrastructure of the UK.

Digital technology is always evolving, but in order to fully profit from it, two key factors must be considered: the caliber of your network and the kind of device you use.

Like fury, BT Group is developing networks. Our full fiber connections have already passed 10 million houses through Openreach, which is 40% of the 25 million homes we have promised to deliver. Furthermore, the 4G signal of EE, the UK’s top mobile network, can now reach approximately nine out of ten square miles and link over 99% of all households.

However, as Ted Lowe’s famous snooker remark illustrated, the quality of the modern networks we create depends on the platform that allows users to access them.

The coronation of King Charles III will be available to stream on the BBC tomorrow in stunning 4K resolution. However, for a small number of families that haven’t updated their black and white television, the images will appear almost exactly how they did seventy years ago, when the BBC broadcast pixelated images of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation to the public.

That is not an indictment. This demonstrates how occasionally customer action is necessary to provide better experiences.

The BT Group is taking part in several significant network upgrade projects over the coming years. However, two in particular will make it easier for more people to take use of the advantages that come with using contemporary networks.

The industry’s and the country’s transition from analog to digital landlines is the first. The house phone as we know it is evolving, not going away. The energy-hungry, end-of-service analog technology that was first used in the 20th century is getting a digital replacement that is future-proof and supported by full fiber networks that can meet the expanding connection needs of UK customers as well as the country’s economy into the next century.

We’ve written a lot about Digital Voice, our digital home phone service. We will extend invitations to consumers to switch later this year, based on their region. consumers who already have full fiber internet will be given priority as they are the most prepared to make the switch.

The shutdown of our 3G network is the second. Launched in the year that the Concorde was finally brought down, 3G was around for more than 20 years before Facebook and YouTube. The UK government recognized this and gave all operators a timeline to phase out 3G technology over the next few years. We at EE have said that the network would be shut down in the first part of 2024.

Customers have already largely abandoned 3G as a result of the shift in internet usage brought about by smartphones and the material they see. Every day, it transports fewer calls and uses less than 0.7% of the data used by our clients. However, even with the tiny traffic quantities it sends, it uses as much as one-third of the energy required to run our whole mobile access network. In contrast, 4G and 5G mobile networks are up to 10 times more efficient, reach farther, respond faster, and provide users with a more secure and dependable connection. Put simply, 3G is unable to keep up.

When combined, these programs offer substantial benefits to visitors to the UK. Additionally, they complement one another. Customers will have access to more secure technology by switching to Digital Voice. Additionally, users will be able to enjoy better data services and have access to one of the biggest voice networks in the UK thanks to 4G and a more contemporary phone.

We are aware that any change can be unsettling, and we take seriously our obligation to ensure that our clients are aware of the changes and their options.

The purpose of these modifications is not to market more costly packages. In the UK, digital connectivity is one of those uncommon things that may offer you better value every year. In contrast, a customer’s fee would triple if they sought to change from a black and white TV license to a color one. Customers that switch from 3G to 4G or 5G in mobile will discover much better value for their money, and in some cases, their monthly bill will go down.

Rather, the goal of this digital revolution is to guarantee that Britain’s digital infrastructure is something to be proud of. The way people live, work, and play has been profoundly altered by modern technologies, thus it is critical that industry leaders in digital technology, such as BT Group, keep making investments in dependable, high-quality connections that are powered by environmentally friendly solutions. In order to provide our clients with increased dependability, reach, and performance, we must also know when to remove outdated equipment.

We’ll make use of the next period to collaborate closely with clients to make sure nobody is left behind.