Why does a SKY digital box need to have a functioning telephone line ? Aren't all the services provided via the satellite link ? Anybody help me on this ?
The satellite link is one-way. In order to use the interactive stuff, you need to be able to send as well as receive, and this is done via the telephone link.
The system works perfectly well without the phone link. In fact I habitually unplug my sky+ and have even had them ring me up to ask me to put it back. It needs the link only so it can transmit details of what you are watching to sky along with any pay per view things you watch so they can billl you. It does not actually "need" the line to function.
You are contractually obliged to have a phone line attached for 12 months after that it doesn't matter your system will work fine but you will need to plug it in if you wish to pay per view or play gaames online.
Sorry NORMANTHEDOG but u r wrong, you no longer need the line for 12 mnths when u r new customer (see ad stand in my local morrisons) , i think they found it hard to enfoce it, like the bbc they are not the law.