Campaigners from Silver Voices and the Digital Poverty Alliance began the petition amid fears the forced rollout of digital services could leave pensioners and vulnerable people isolated in the case of a power cut or internet outage.

Telecoms firms including BT, EE and Virgin Media have already had to pause the rollout to some customers after concerns were raised about personal alarm systems which rely on access to landlines to phone emergency services.

Dennis Reed, Director of Silver Voices, said: ‘The strong public response to the petition has been heartening, with many supportive comments on social media as well as the 10,000 signatures gained in double quick time.

The petition has in excess of 10,000 signatures, meaning the government must issue a response

In the next couple of years, the Digital Voice programme will move ten million BT customers off traditional copper-wire phone lines to fibre cables that use new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to make calls

‘Our feedback suggests that huge sections of the population are still unaware of this major infrastructure change and it comes as a big shock when their telecom company tells them that their landline is going to be switched off in a couple of weeks.’

He continued: ‘The Government must now state clearly what its position is on the current unrealistic timescale and take joint responsibility with the telecom giants for safeguarding older and more vulnerable customers.

‘It is quite clear that thousands are being switched over to digital voice without any assessment of the personal safety implications of the residents concerned.

‘At the moment, there is no reliable solution for those who may need to make an emergency call in the event of a power cut or internet outage, particularly where mobile signals are weak or non-existent. And issues around the compatibility of telecare and personal alarm systems remain unresolved.

‘We believe that the only responsible way forward is to extend the timetable for dispensing with traditional copper wire landlines, and make the switchover voluntary until safe solutions are developed.

‘This issue will come back to bite politicians if they underwrite the industry’s current plans, which are dictated by commercial rather than safety considerations.’

Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan previously called a meeting with the heads of leading telecoms firms after multiple ‘serious incidents’ involving the new landline services.

Telecoms giants are currently switching all landline phones to digital in Britain’s 29million homes, making them internet-based services.

Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices which represents over 60s, is calling for a boycott of the digital switchover by older people