Plan to rip up landlines could be delayed by two years amid fears the switch to a digital network is putting the elderly and vulnerable at risk

The rollout of digital phone lines could be delayed by up to two years over fears it is putting the elderly and vulnerable at risk. But BT and Virgin Media O2 recently confirmed they were pausing the project after a number of 'serious incidents' in which it caused vital telecare emergency alarms, used by the elderly and disabled, to fail. The rollout of digital phone lines could be delayed by up to two years over fears it is putting the elderly and vulnerable at risk BT and Virgin Media O2 recently confirmed they were pausing a project switching households from traditional landlines to a digital network after a number of 'serious incidents' in which it caused telecare emergency alarms, used by the elderly and disabled, to fail Around 1.8million elderly and disabled people rely on the alarms, which are worn around the neck or wrist and automatically call a response centre over the landline in a health emergency. Around 1.8million elderly and disabled people rely on the alarms, which are worn around the neck or wrist and automatically call a response centre over the landline in a health emergency BT, which also partially froze the rollout, has previously said customers would not be switched 'until they tell us they are ready' A BT spokesman said: 'We are working to minimise any delays, as the switch to digital landlines is a necessity given the increasing fragility of the analogue network.'