NEWS BT has denied rumours it is to close 30,000 payphones across the UK as people continue to shun the booths in favour of their mobile phones.
In many people's mind the rather sad and forgotten BT phone box now amounts to little more than a tramps' toilet and a receptacle for hookers' calling cards, but BT insists the business is still viable and says the 30,000 figure is being taken way out of context.
BT currently runs 72,000 phone boxes around the UK. Of these, 42,000 are making a loss and the telecoms giant has promised to maintain 12,000 of these loss-making boxes.
However, a BT spokesman has said that doesn't necessarily mean the remaining 30,000 boxes are set to be axed. Currently the incumbent only has definite plans to close between 9,000 and 10,000 of the boxes by the end of 2005 - the rest could yet be saved.
"We'd like to open up the debate on ways of funding these loss-making kiosks," said the spokesman.
Ofcom is currently looking into the provision of phone boxes, including those in loss-making locations, in order to establish whether they are covered by BT's universal service obligation. But BT believes the cost of maintaining them should be met by others and not just the incumbent, especially where the loss of a phone box could be depriving a small local community.
One idea put forward by BT's spokesman was that the mobile industry should be encouraged to foot the bill "especially as the use of mobile phones is the reason why so many kiosks are making a loss".
Comments
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1. Keith Neill
Er sorry, run that one by me again? The mobile phone companies should be subsidising BT's loss-making payphones? Presumably that will happen about the same time as Tesco start subsidising all the local shops they are driving out of business ....
(Ed note. To be fair, Tesco doesn't have a universal service obligation. It's not exactly a relevant comparison, whatever you think of BT.)
2. anonymous
I was impressed with BT's earlier announcement that they would turn payphones into wireless hotspots. What a great idea. Why would they abandon or give away this infrastructure just at the time when every other operator is investing in WLAN and other access points.
3. anonymous
May be they should convert the phone line to dsl and offer wireless services instead.?
4. Fred Flintstone
Q'uelle surprise!
[quote]
One idea put forward by BT's spokesman was that the mobile industry should be encouraged to foot the bill "especially as the use of mobile phones is the reason why so many kiosks are making a loss".
[/quote]
BT Should ditch these loss-making entities and try ploughing a little more of their exorbitant profits into increasing download limits for their steady-paying Broadband customers instead of just whining and finger-pointing.
5. anonymous
They can take the one opposite my house any day. It has all the glass replaced twice a month.
When the thieves find no money in it they take it out on the windows, but that's probably unfare on the drunks who smash it up when oddly enough they can't get a taxi to pick them up at 3.00am
6. Roger Huffadine
Now I'm upset
I go into BT phone boxes to use my mobile 'cos they keep the traffic noise down.
I'm going to have to find other places to make my calls in town now ;-)
7. anonymous
Those payphone boxes are worth a fortune - If only BT new how to sell to a market place, not a captive audiance
8. anonymous
If only the chap who posted the previous message "Those payphone boxes are worth a fortune" knew how to spell! ;-)
9. Deep thought
Look at the payphone sites as communication nodes. Maybe along with the standard phone BT could provided metered wireless access at these sites therefore generating revenue from additional services (internet access - blue tooth connectivity - GPS co-ordinates and maps)
BT could do a lot to market these communication nodes and turn to an advantage the numerous sites they have.
Then it would be easier to raise funding from the local community or mobile companies because they too can feel they are getting somthing in return.
So BT think Node communication everywhere not No communication
P.S.
Is there scope for a debate on 'Should equipment be able to defend itself against vandalism'
10. Richard Percival
It would be interesting to see what makes the at-risk boxes lose money... overpriced capital, high cleaning or technical maintenance/repair, or charges set too low. When I was young I thought phone boxes were vandalised because the vandals had no one to talk to, and were taking their anger out on the government-owned symbol of their alienation and exclusion. Later I learned that it was the money box that was the target, apparently, although I never saw a box with the money box open, but lots where the coin slot was blocked by a coin, presumably because nobody had emptied the coinbox! Now I suspect that money should never be used in phone boxes, and probably no handset either: just an embedded noise cancelling microphone and a small loudspeaker, with a personal stereo jack for those desiring privacy. Maybe a touchtone dialpad, but also a network-resident voice-response system, to deal with scratchcards, emergency calls, directory services. A card slot for magstripe credit cards and ISO contact smart cards and phonecards, a place to touch down a contactless smart card, or value-card rechargeble in corner shops or supervised recharging machines. And of course a bluetooth/Wifi access zone (with park bench to sit on). Self-diagnostics for the speaker/microphone. A webcam to help with security and to allow called parties with broadband to see the caller. A regular cleaning service for an entirely wipe-downable part-enclosed space. It would be good if this terminal looked instantly recognisable, perhaps it should be red in colour... Whoops, wrong century!