Ofcom: At least 1,400 rural phone boxes protected from closing

[Still Waters]

Ofcom has brought in new rules to protect rural phone boxes from closure.

The UK telecoms regulator said it will stop British Telecom (BT) from closing down phone boxes in areas with poor mobile signals if they are needed by local communities.

Ofcom estimates there are at least 1,400 phone boxes in areas without good mobile coverage.

This is lower than its original estimate that 5,000 phone boxes would be protected by new rules.

But it is unclear how many phone boxes will be protected for other reasons. Ofcom said it would also protect boxes in areas with high frequencies of accidents or suicides, or where calls are being made to services like Childline.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-61731594