Fax for the Memories - 80s Throwback to be Consigned to History
(2 November 2022 – United Kingdom) The fax machine is officially a relic of the past as the communications regulator Ofcom threw its support behind the scale out of fax services rules governing telecoms provision.
As ubiquitous as fax machines were in the 1980s and 90s, their obsolescence comes amid the industry-led migration from the public switched telephone network to all-internet protocol (IP) telephony, which means that fax machines will no longer work in the same way Amelia Hill reports for the Guardian. Some argue fax machines are still in general use, particularly in certain sectors including banking, legal, medical and travel sectors.
As ubiquitous as fax machines were in the 1980s, their obsolescence follows an industry-led migration from the public switched telephone network to all-internet protocol (IP) telephony, which means that fax machines will no longer work in the same way.
“The migration to IP process is being managed by industry but Ofcom expects providers to assess customers’ needs and offer advice and assistance to customers who use telecare devices. This is a very important issue, given the potential vulnerability of these consumers, but it is not clear that the removal of the fax obligation would have any additional impact on this” Ofcom stated.
“DCMS officials conducted investigations with the healthcare, tourism, legal, and energy sectors, and found that the use of fax was minimal and alternatives are being sought where its use still continues”
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