# Man travels 1,700 miles, makes 52 calls to save UK phone box

2026-08-10T13:54:55+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

William Arnold travelled 1,700 miles from the hamlet of Einacleit on the Isle of Lewis to make 52 calls from a rare double-door K6 red telephone kiosk. His mission was to meet Ofcom rules that require BT to keep a phone box if at least 52 calls are made from it in a year. Arnold fed £31.20 in coins into the box to 'inconvenience BT' and preserve it for another year. Ofcom regulations also protect a phone box if it is the last in an area more than 400 metres from the next box, or in a spot without coverage from all four mobile networks, or in a high-risk accident or suicide location. BT offers a £1 adoption scheme for heritage kiosks, letting communities use them for defibrillators or mini-libraries.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/william-arnold-travelled-1700-miles-to-a-remote-isle-of-lewis-phone-box-and-spent-about-36-making-52-calls-the-usage-protected-it-for-another-year/articleshow/133100092.cms>

Tags: BT, conservation, heritage, Ofcom, phone box, UK
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