News Cuttings
1978 historic figures from
1979
First Electronic, microprocessor controlled payphone - the blue payphone introduced.
1981
First Cashless, card operated payphone - the cardphone - introduced
First Table-top renter's payphone introduced
1983
Microprocessor controlled Blue payphone 2 introduced as major replacement for pay on answer public payphones. Also Payphone 500, a similar model for prestige renter's sites.
Trainphone, the first public payphone on a train, introduced on a trial basis on service from Paddington to south wales and west country. it operates via British telecom radiophone network.
Talk Talk - Its a Shame
Pop Video
April 1984
From BT Journal Vol 8 Number 1
'Boxing' to win the payphone battle
British Telecom's payphones modernisation programme is showing results throughout the UK. The new phones have improved features and facilities and customers are making more use of them. But vandalism remains a problem and schemes such as Copacard - highlighted in the last issue of the British Telecom Journal and aimed at fostering relationships between community police and local schoolchildren - and a national car sticker campaign have been devised to help. This article looks at payphone progress to date.
British Telecom has ordered 25,000 new-style electronic telephones as part of the final stage in its programme to modernise the UK's 77,000 public payphones.
The contracts for new telephones, worth a total of £23 million, are for:
• 15,000 electronic payphones which accept all coins from 2p to £1, return unused coins at the end of a call and automatically report their own faults, ordered from Plessey Telecommunications Products Ltd of Liverpool;
• 10,000 Cardphones which operate on holographically encoded pre-paid Phonecards, from Landis & Gyr of North Acton, London.
More than £80 million has been invested so far in British Telecom's £160 million payphone
modernisation programme. The more reliable telephones and modern housings are already boosting payphone usage and cutting down vandalism and theft.
An 18-month programme to convert most of London's 10,800 public telephone kiosks to the new style housings has also started. The equipment in all these kiosks has already been replaced with modern electronic telephones.
A review of payphone progress to date shows that the number of Britain's public payphones has increased from 76,616 last year to 77,370 and that 10,000 new-style housings are now in use, giving much easier access for disabled customers and wheelchair users.
A total of 56,000 all-electronic payphones have been installed and the trend towards 'cashless' telephones has been boosted by the installation of 6,000 public Cardphones with Phonecards now available from 8,000 outlets.
A programme to convert 3,100 kiosks on Tyneside and Teesside to new-style housings has been completed and elsewhere in the country two new cashless calling methods have been successfully launched. In Bristol, AccountCall allows customers to have the cost of calls charged to their home or office telephone account, and, in London, CreditCall operates on a customer's own credit card or charge card on special telephones at Heathrow Airport and British Rail's Waterloo station.
Payphones using Phonecards have proved to be a huge success in improving the quality of service. Because they do not have cash boxes the attraction for thieves is removed and British Telecom plans to increase the numbers installed particularly in major towns and cities.
Vandalism, however, remains a major concern and the company is actively pursuing new initiatives through police forces, schools and local communities to help to eliminate the problem.
Complementing the modernisation programme, all existing electronic payphones and Cardphones are being modified to provide operator access for assistance and transfer charge calls when coin payphones are in the emergency call-only mode because of fault or vandalism.
They will also reduce the intrusion of the operator-alert tone which alerts staff of attempted transfer-charge frauds and allows payphone calls through the operator to be charged at the appropriate rate.
The majority of Cardphones have already been modified to allow access to the `100' Operator for reverse charge and British Telecom credit card calls. The modifications will be completed throughout the country during the year
Text Box
How much does a payphone cost ?
Well 15,000 + 10,000=25,000 cost 23 million
thats £920 each ??
The trend towards 'cashless' telephones is growing and in a joint exercise between British Telecom and the Salvation Army, London's young teenage runaways were given the chance to make a free phone call home using the new Phonecard kiosks
Listed kiosks
British Telecom has welcomed a decision by the Department of the Environment to list a further 400 telephone kiosks as being of special architectural and historic interest.
The Department of the Environment and British Telecom are to work with English Heritage to identify a representative sample of post-1939 kiosks worthy of preservation.
The extension follows the Department of the Environment's recent decision that listing can be given to buildings 30 years old and more. Previously only pre-1939 buildings qualified for listing.
To qualify for listing, the 400 extra boxes will have to be judged to enhance their surroundings or be sited near listed buildings or in attractive town and country locations. See article on payphone modernisation on page 60.
Police protection for payphones
Typical of the many efforts to beat the problem of payphone vandalism is a joint scheme between Merseyside Police and British Telecom's Liverpool District.
Three payphones have been installed in police stations in areas which have suffered from extensive vandalism. The trial at police stations in Wavertree Road, Belle Vale and Kirkby will last for 12 months and may then be extended to other areas. Meanwhile, in Speke and Halewood, payphones are to be moved to sites outside and within police stations.
The initiatives complement a£3 million modernisation programme for payphones in the Liverpool District and the popular education package which uses the 'PC Payphone' character.
The aim of the schemes is to make working payphones available 24-hours a day to the community in areas of high vandalism.
By putting payphones under the protection of the local police station, British Telecom hopes to make them less vulnerable to vandals and at the same time the move will increase the number of payphones available to residents of the areas.
On the line
British Rail has signed a contract with BT Mobile Communications to install 200 trainphones using the Cellnet cellular system on their Intercity train services
BR plan to install the phones, which use BTs familiar green Phonecard system, on intercity routes over the next 2 years.
BT have already supplied 9 system 4 train phones to BR on intercity pulman trains serving London Liverpool Manchester Leeds Newcastle and Blackpool, and these will be converted from cash to Phonecard payment.
The sale of Phonecards from train buffet cars is currently being trialled on some intercity routes, and it is hoped that this will become a national service
1986 Customer Leaflet
A £160 million campaign to improve the public payphone service is well under way. We have now installed new equipment in over half of out 77,000 boxes. Kiosks are also being modernised with 2500 already installed. We have introduced at many locations Phonecard cashless payphones which are less prone to vandalism and theft, in addition to providing our customers with a convenient way of calling
November 2016
15 August 2017
see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40934210
BT to scrap half of the UK's remaining telephone boxes
BT is to phase out over half of the UK's remaining telephone boxes because some are not being used at all BT is to scrap half of the UK's remaining 40,000 telephone boxes and focus on the ones in locations where people are more likely to use them.
In 1992 at their peak before mobile phones became popular, there were 92,000 phone boxes in the UK.
Telephone boxes still handle 33,000 calls a day, but one third of kiosks are never used to make a call.
BT said many phone boxes had become a burden and were expensive to repair and maintain.
£6m to maintain
"BT is committed to providing a public payphone service, but with usage declining by over 90% in the last decade, we continue to review and remove payphones which are no longer used," a BT spokesperson told the BBC.
BT intends to scrap the 20,000 telephone boxes over the next five years.
Out of the 40,000 phone booths still working, 7,000 are the traditional red phone boxes designed in 1935 to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V.
More than half of phone boxes lose money and the number of calls is declining by more than 20% per year.
The cost of maintaining telephone boxes annually is about £6m. BT is responsible for repairing damage to the kiosks, including replacing glass panes and broken receivers, as well as removing graffiti, rubbish and human waste.
'Local veto'
It is estimated that 93% of all people in the UK now own a mobile phone, and 98% of the UK has 3G or 4G mobile internet coverage.
However, phone booths are still used by children, the elderly, people who can't afford mobile phones, and in emergencies when smartphone batteries go flat.
If there are two kiosks within 400m walking distance of a site, BT is allowed to remove one, as long as there is one left.
But if the telecoms provider seeks to remove the only phone booth on the site, Ofcom rules state BT must inform the public and consult with the local authorities. The authority then has 90 days to object, which is known as a "local veto".
"Payphone removals are carried out in strict adherence to Ofcom guidelines and, where appropriate, with the consent of local authorities. Where we receive objections from the local authority, we won't remove the payphone," said BT.
Adopt a kiosk
In areas where telephone boxes are not being used, many local communities have transformed and preserved phone booths by buying them for £1 from BT under the Adopt a Kiosk scheme.
So far, more than 4,000 kiosks have been repurposed as mini-libraries and art galleries or to house defibrillation machines, information centres, shops and exhibitions.
An InLinkUK kiosk in Holborn, LondonImage copyrightBT
Image caption
BT is replacing phone boxes with kiosks offering high-speed Wi-Fi internet, free UK calls and smartphone charging ports
BT is also replacing phone booths with high-tech InLinkUK kiosks that come with ultra-fast 1Gbps Wi-Fi hotspots, a touchscreen offering information and directions, free UK landline and mobile phone calls, and two USB smartphone charging ports.
Over 750 InLinkUK kiosks are being installed in London and other cities across the UK.
August 2017 - Big Issue - Only 2,400 of 20,000 boxes to survive cull
Ringing out: BT to axe 20,000 unused phone boxes by 2022
The famous yet obsolete telephone box continues to litter streets across Britain. Now, BT has announced, it's time for the derelict boxes to go.
By Dionne Kennedy@bowliekids
A familiar feature on Britain’s streets, the iconic telephone box is nearing the end of the line.
Once a lifeline to the wider world for many, a way to avoid a row if you were running late for your tea, today they lie dormant, sad and sometimes a bit smelly, housing only empty chip wrappers and the occasional fly-poster.
This week, BT hung up on 20,000 phone boxes across the country after usage plummeted by 90% in the past decade. 33,000 calls a day are still made from phone boxes. But a third are only used on average once a month, with many others abandoned completely.
With the number of calls dropping 20% each year and the cost of maintenance rising to £6m it seems the landmark is running out of spare change to keep the calls going.
At their peak, there were 92,000 payphones in the UK, but with other countries ditching the dated method of communication (Finland, for example, chucked all of their phone booths in 2007), the British telecoms giant has followed suit.
The iconic red phone-box: yours for a small fee.
While the payphone is fazed out, over 2,000 traditional red cast iron boxes will survive the cull – as they are as categorised as Grade II listed buildings. And if you’ve got a spare few quid, you could even pick up one of your own.
BT’s Adopt-A-Kiosk scheme gives communities the chance to retain their iconic red kiosk, developing it into whatever they please. Since the campaign launched, 4,000 red boxes across the UK have been returned to their former glory, housing everything from a life-saving defibrillator to a community library.
Fancy picking up one of your own? Take a look at how your community can band together to save the red icon.
Thousands of phone boxes around the UK will be protected from closure.
Thousands of phone boxes around the UK will be protected from closure.
Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator, said it will stop BT from closing down 5,000 phone boxes in areas with poor mobile signals or high accident rates, if they are still needed by local communities.
The watchdog said that without such protection, some - which are considered "vital" - would still have been closed.
For the past few years BT has been decommissioning unused payphones.
Now a phone box will be saved if:
It is located at an accident or suicide hotspot.
More than 52 calls have been made from it over the past 12 months.
Exceptional circumstances mean there is a need for a public call box.
Its location is not already covered by all four mobile networks.
At their peak, there were around 92,000 phone boxes in the UK, but now 96% of UK adults own a mobile phone.
About 6,000 of the kiosks have been adopted by local authorities for other purposes, such as book exchanges.
Now, if no payphone is needed, communities will be able to purchase them for £1 and use them for other purposes.
Selina Chadha, Ofcom's Director of Connectivity, said: "Some of the call boxes we plan to protect are used to make relatively low numbers of calls. But if one of those calls is from a distressed child, an accident victim or someone contemplating suicide, that public phone line can be a lifeline at a time of great need.
"We also want to make sure that people without mobile coverage, often in rural areas, can still make calls. At the same time, we're planning to support the rollout of new phone boxes with free Wi-Fi and charging.
"Under our plans, BT and KCOM - which operates Hull's unique white phone boxes - must also install batteries in some payphones, so they can still be used during a power cut."
There are currently about 21,000 call boxes across the country. For people without a mobile, or for those in areas with poor mobile coverage, these can be a lifeline for making calls to friends and family, helpline services and accessing emergency services.
Almost 150,000 calls were made to emergency services from phone boxes in the year to May 2020, while 25,000 calls were made to Childline, and 20,000 to the Samaritans.
Thousands of 'lifeline' phone boxes could be saved from closure under new Ofcom rules
The vast majority of UK adults now own a mobile phone, but for those without one, or where coverage is poor, phone boxes can provide a vital connection to friends and family or emergency services, the regulator said.
Thousands of UK phone boxes could be protected from closure under plans announced by telecoms regulator Ofcom.
It said that for people without a mobile or in areas with poor mobile coverage, payphones "can be a lifeline" for making calls to friends and family or contacting emergency services and helplines.
Proposed new rules would mean a phone box cannot be removed if its location is not already covered by all four mobile networks or if it is near an accident or suicide hotspot.
It would also be protected if more than 52 calls have been made from the phone over the past 12 months - or in "exceptional circumstances".
Those could include being in a coastal location where mobile reception can be patchy or related to the type of calls made from the phones, such as to helpline numbers.
At their peak in 1992 there were 92,000 BT-operated phone boxes across the UK, but today there are just 21,000 - when including those separately operated by KCOM in Hull.
With 96% of UK adults now owning a mobile handset, some defunct phone boxes have found new uses, such as places where defibrillators are stored or as mini-libraries.
The switch to digital phone lines poses a new threat to those that remain in their original use.
That is because the change will require investment to upgrade phone boxes - with the old telephone network being switched off by December 2025.
BT is currently assessing which ones are not needed and can be decommissioned.
But Ofcom said that under the current process "some that are needed by local communities risk being withdrawn".
It estimates that around 5,000 phone boxes around the UK would be protected from removal under its proposed new rules.
At other sites not falling within the strict criteria for protection, BT and KCOM may remove phone boxes "but would need to formally consult with local communities before any action is taken".
The operators will also have to install batteries in some payphones, so they can still be used during a power cut after the switch to digital.
Selina Chadha, director of connectivity at Ofcom, said: "Some of the call boxes we plan to protect are used to make relatively low numbers of calls.
"But if one of those calls is from a distressed child, an accident victim or someone contemplating suicide, that public phone line can be a lifeline at a time of great need.
"We also want to make sure that people without mobile coverage, often in rural areas, can still make calls."
Ofcom said call volumes at payphones have fallen from 800 million minutes in 2002 to just seven million in 2020.
A new generation of "street hubs" from BT offer services such as free Wi-Fi and charging.
But illustrating the vital importance of phone boxes for some, Ofcom said almost 150,000 calls were made to emergency services from them in the year to May 2020, while 25,000 calls were made to Childline and 20,000 to the Samaritans.
A spokesperson for BT said it "takes its regulatory obligations seriously in providing a public phone box service" and that it was looking forward to "working constructively with Ofcom".
"Any phone box removals are carried out in strict adherence to Ofcom guidelines and, where appropriate, with the consent of local authorities," the spokesperson said.
"We also know many communities love their red kiosks and, to date, more than 6,500 have been adopted across the UK via our continuing Adopt a Kiosk scheme - turning them into lifesaving defibrillator units, mini libraries, and many other new uses."
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
Ofcom
Plan to protect payphones in areas with poor mobile signal or high accident rates
Also updating rules to support on-street devices with free calls, Wi-Fi and charging
If a payphone is no longer needed, communities can reuse landmark red kiosks
Thousands of vital phone boxes around the UK will be protected from closure, under Ofcom plans announced today.
With 96% of UK adults now owning a mobile phone, and mobile signal improving significantly in recent years, the way people make calls is changing.
As part of the move to digital phone lines, which will require investment to upgrade phone boxes, BT is currently assessing which ones are no longer needed and can be decommissioned. But under the current process for removing payphones, some that are needed by local communities risk being withdrawn.
So Ofcom is proposing clearer, stronger rules to safeguard a phone box against removal, if any of four criteria applies:
its location is not already covered by all four mobile networks; or
it is located at an accident or suicide hotspot; or
more than 52 calls have been made from it over the past 12 months; or
exceptional circumstances mean there is a need for a public call box.[1]
We estimate that around 5,000 phone boxes around the UK would be protected from removal by the new rules. BT and KCOM can propose to remove phone boxes that do not fall within this strict criteria, but would need to formally consult with local communities before any action is taken.
Some of the call boxes we plan to protect are used to make relatively low numbers of calls. But if one of those calls is from a distressed child, an accident victim or someone contemplating suicide, that public phone line can be a lifeline at a time of great need.
We also want to make sure that people without mobile coverage, often in rural areas, can still make calls. At the same time, we’re planning to support the rollout of new phone boxes with free Wi-Fi and charging.
Selina Chadha (pictured), Ofcom’s Director of Connectivity
Under our plans, BT and KCOM – which operates Hull’s unique white phone boxes – must also install batteries in some payphones, so they can still be used during a power cut.
Who still uses payphones?
There are currently around 21,000 call boxes across the country. For people without a mobile, or for those in areas with poor mobile coverage, these can be a lifeline for making calls to friends and family, helpline services and accessing emergency services.
Almost 150,000 calls were made to emergency services from phone boxes in the year to May 2020, while 25,000 calls were made to Childline and 20,000 to Samaritans.
At the same time, the services people need from public call boxes are changing. Call volumes from payphones have fallen from around 800m minutes in 2002 to just 7m in 2020. A new generation of street hubs being rolled out by BT offer services such as free Wi-Fi and free charging.
So we are also proposing to allow BT and KCOM greater flexibility in the range of services they can provide in their phone boxes, to keep pace with people’s needs.[2]
Evolution of the public call box
Notes to editors
Exceptional circumstances: This category could include issues relevant to the geographic location of the phone box (for instance, a coastal location where mobile reception is less resilient); as well as the types of calls made from the phone, such as to helpline numbers.
For several years, BT has been decommissioning payphones that it has assessed are no longer needed. However, local authorities who want to retain the iconic red kiosk can use BT’s ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme. Under the scheme, local bodies can purchase a red kiosk for £1 and use it for something else. Since BT launched the scheme, more than 6,000 kiosks have been converted to a range of different uses, such as community libraries, or to house life-saving public defibrillators.
We are also consulting on removing the requirement to provide a fax service.
