UK-wide household advice for staying informed when phone, mobile data, broadband or electricity stops working. Communications failures can affect a single provider, a town or multiple services at once. They do not necessarily mean a cyberattack has happened. Prepare an alternative contact plan rather than assuming that every device or network will fail simultaneously.
What should your household know before an outage?
- Keep essential numbers offline. Write down household, school, carer, local medical, utility and neighbour contacts on paper. Add an agreed meeting point and an out-of-area family contact if appropriate. Store the list somewhere all responsible adults can find it.
- Know the alternatives. Check whether members of the household can use a mobile if the landline stops, or Wi-Fi calling when mobile coverage is down but broadband works. These alternatives depend on working equipment and an available network.
- Make sure devices have power. Keep a working charging lead and suitable charged power bank, but remember that a phone with a full battery still needs network coverage. Keep a battery or wind-up torch and radio with fresh or charged batteries.
- Discuss plans with children and dependants. Agree who will collect children if schools cannot call, how carers can check on someone who lives alone, and what to do if a familiar messaging app is unavailable.
- Ask providers about accessibility needs. Anyone who relies on a telecare alarm, digital landline or health-monitoring device should confirm how it works during loss of broadband or electricity and make an individual backup plan with the provider.
Communications options compared
| Option | Useful for | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Paper contacts and meeting plan | Coordinating without internet or a working handset | Must be updated, accessible and shared with relevant people |
| Battery or wind-up radio | Receiving broadcast updates if stations are transmitting | Cannot send replies or guarantee local coverage |
| Mobile phone and power bank | Calls, messages and official information when the network works | Power does not restore a failed mobile network |
| Alternative mobile network or Wi-Fi calling | Potential fallback during a provider-specific fault | Coverage, tariffs, compatible phones and working broadband vary |
| Specialist radios or satellite devices | Particular work, travel or outdoor needs | Licensing, subscriptions, line of sight, equipment and coverage can limit usefulness; verify before buying |
During a phone, broadband or mobile outage
Check your provider’s official status information if you have another means of accessing it. Try a different available connection only when safe to do so. Use your pre-agreed family arrangements instead of travelling unnecessarily, and check on neighbours who may be isolated if it is safe.
In immediate danger, try 999 or 112. A mobile may be able to place an emergency call on another available network even when your usual network has failed. This is not guaranteed if there is no coverage at all, the handset is unusable or infrastructure is unavailable. If you cannot call, seek help safely according to local emergency-service guidance.
During a power cut as well
Your home router normally requires mains electricity. Mobile masts and digital telephony equipment can also be affected. Preserve essential battery power, keep radio information available and follow the practical steps in our UK Power Cut Readiness guide. Never use a petrol generator, barbecue or outdoor stove inside an enclosed space.
Useful information by UK nation
Emergency numbers 999 and 112 operate across the UK. Power-fault reporting numbers depend on the local network operator. Keep a printed list of the correct electricity, water, council and emergency contacts for your address and update it when you move.
For official warnings, use UK Emergency Alerts and Met Office UK weather warnings. Do not assume you will receive a mobile alert when your phone or network is unavailable.
What is worth buying?
Begin with what you already own: working phones, chargers, a radio and suitable batteries. The next useful step may be a free written contact plan or learning how to use an existing feature such as Wi-Fi calling. Consider specialist communication equipment only after confirming the intended purpose, UK legal requirements where applicable, real coverage, subscriptions and ongoing maintenance. Go Prepare’s shop is not yet accepting orders; this advice is not a disguised product recommendation.
Related guides and planning tools
UK internet, cyber and payment outages · 72-hour household checklist · Build My Plan · All UK emergency scenarios.
Primary sources
UK Government Prepare — phone and broadband outages · UK Government Prepare — power cuts · UK Government Prepare — household emergency plans.
Editorial review: 15 October 2026. General UK household preparedness information, not real-time incident guidance. Official provider and emergency-service instructions take precedence.