6 December 2007
Ofcom has forced Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers to enable broadband users to make emergency calls.
VoIP users will now be able to call 999 and 112 to access emergency help via VoIP technology in a move that will help to clear up confusion around the issue as well as attract more households to the service.
According to a recent Ofcom survey, over three quarters of VoIP users do not know whether their provider allows 999 calls to be made, while only 36% are with a provider that does.
Tim Wolfenden, Head of Communications Services at independent comparison and switching service, uSwitch.com, welcomed the news but was disappointed that consumers have had to wait such a long time to benefit.
"VoIP burst onto the scene in a big way a year ago offering significantly cheaper phone bills, especially when making international calls," he said.
"By enabling emergency calls to be made, the number of consumers using VoIP as an independent form of communication will increase dramatically; it's just a shame that we'll have to wait until 2008 to get there."
In other broadband news, the latest survey of UK broadband services has revealed a downturn in customer satisfaction levels.
According to market research firm JD Power, customer complaints now outnumber service-related enquiries by 52% to 48%.
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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