- Vodafones Backup -backup -Rouers in Broadband Battery in case of power cuts
- BT, KCOM and ZEN Internet also offer the device to customers with a white-label product in the pipeline
- Vodafone Business offers the battery backup “In the near future”
New Ofcom rules in the UK have given rise to a new backup battery for small business routers supported by ISPS Vodafone, BT, KCOM and Zen Internet.
Vodafone Broadband Battery Backup’s main purpose is to keep fast-dependent customers, including those who depend on it to contact emergency services, activate a telecare arm or resident in a remote area of low mobile coverage connected prior to the switch of the public, who changed telephone networks (PSTN) in 2027, to the favorite of VOIP providers.
However, it will offer up to 7 hours of battery life for a 25W router (4 hours for a 55W router), can operate a router and modem at the same time and has a USB-C port for charging business smartphones and business tablets, making it an enticing development for SMB and enterprise customers.
Vodafone Broadband Battery Backup
Rob Winterschladen, Vodafone UK’s Consumer Director, said the company recognized “the important importance of protecting fastline-dependent customers”, referring to significant negative weather events such as 2024’s Storm Darragh, leaving 70,000 residents without power.
Research shows that Britons have unreliable access to power. By 2023, UKPOWER found that 66% experienced a local interruption in which 23% reported that these are happening almost annually.
The battery key line is its compact size versus previously available comparable products and an emergency mode that reserves 25% of the battery – useful in the event of a power switch.
“This new unit is a huge improvement in everything available in the market, and essentially, is easy to install to further support vulnerable consumers through the withdrawal of the traditional landline,” noted David Barber, Zen Internet’s strategy director.
Meanwhile, Ian Shepherdson, Kcoms Chief Technology Officer, that “[the company] Will use the devices to provide a longer life battery to ‘at risk’ customers who have their voice service migrated and delivered through the full fiber network. “
They also tempered expectations. “While it does not provide full internet connection because of the way KCOM’s network is configured, the devices will give up to 12 hours of emergency covering to voting calls in the event of a power outage or similar event.”
Perhaps most importantly for Techradar Pro readers, Vodafone Business has announced that the battery’s backup will be available to its customers “in the near future” and that it will be released in a white-label variant for other ISPs and Telcos to offer their customers at a later date.
