A telecommunications network including a number of digital main switching units connected to local switching units which provide telephony service to consumer premises via local connections provide telemetry services for utilities by way of a telemetry platform. A network management system is responsive to customer service information to cause local switching units to provide customer facilities such as call barring. The local exchange is responsive to signals indicative of a call from the telemetry platform to override any class of service which would normally prevent the telemetry call from being connected. The local exchange and telemetry platform co-operate with customer premises interface equipment to ensure that any conflict between telephony requirement and telemetry requirement is resolved in favor of the telephony customer.
