BRITAIN risks being dangerously exposed if the internet goes down under Government plans to cut off Freeview, ministers have been warned.
The National Preparedness Commission (NPC) said terrestrial television should be protected until at least 2044 over fears using the web alone could cut off the most vulnerable.
Britain risks being dangerously exposed if the internet goes down under Government plans to cut off Freeview, warn ministers Credit: Getty
Culture Sec Lisa Nandy last week hinted that ministers would settle on the 2044 date Credit: Getty
A new report concludes that the “tall tower” network carrying digital TV is an asset the UK cannot afford to weaken.
It comes as ministers decide whether to turn off Freeview in 2034 or 2044, and rely on internet streaming services.
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The Jattvibe’s Save Our Sets campaign has warned that pensioners and families will be forced to pay for faster broadband on top of the licence fee if terrestrial signals are cut off.
The NPC report found that broadband routers go down immediately after losing power, while TV and DAB radio transmitter sites can stay online for days or even weeks.
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It would ensure information could be transmitted to Brits in a national emergency even if the internet had gone down.
The paper adds that the costs of an early switch-off would fall hardest on rural areas with poor broadband connections and few fallback options.
Nigel Huddleston MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “It is a fundamental security concern if we lose our emergency broadcasting capability in the event of a cyber attack or internet outage.
“We cannot risk being so vulnerable in these highly uncertain times.”
Lord Toby Harris, who is chairman of the National Preparedness Commission, said: “The UK’s tall tower network is a sovereign, resilient asset that reaches almost every household and supports radio, emergency services and critical infrastructure.
“Protecting terrestrial broadcasting until at least 2044 would preserve a vital, independent route for trusted public information when it is needed most.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy last week hinted that ministers would settle on the 2044 date, admitting many believed the earlier switch-off “isn’t possible”.
