Maintaining and upgrading existing lines is costly especially as they are spread out throughmany rural areas, and without the wireless business generating cash flow it is far more difficult.
Since so many people may be sharing at these times, it may make it more difficult to cut through the noise and actually reach people during these times.
Unless there is a structural shift in the UK economy it is difficult to see how many of the now 8 million people who are out of work (through choice, illness, training or other) are going to be brought back into economic productivity anytime soon.