Housing providers are urged to act now to avoid industry capacity issues, with nearly half the sector planning on using analogue to digital converters to meet the switchover deadline.
With the January 2027 analogue switch off fast approaching, housing providers are prioritising interim solutions to keep their residents safe.
Only 36% expect to complete a full digital upgrade in time, as revealed in the Digital Readiness Report 2026 from Housing LIN and Appello. This leaves many considering short-term options to bridge the gap. We found that 48.6% of housing providers are using or planning to use analogue to digital converters.
But these findings highlight a worrying issue. With finite industry capacity, there simply won't be the resources available if everyone waits until later in 2026 to procure their converters.
The risks of waiting
Housing providers have a lot of work to do to safe guard vital telecare services. While 65% prioritise telecare upgrades as their largest planned investment this year, the majority have yet to complete their digital switch.
This means a significant number will need to make the move to digital during 2026. Nearly half are focusing on A2D converters as their chosen solution. However, there's also a worrying lack of urgency. While 59%are confident in their plans, most have not yet put these in motion.
This risks a massive implementation bottleneck.
If everyone waits until late 2026 to act, the telecare industry will not be able to meet the influx in demand. Industry resources have already reached a tipping point, with large numbers yet to upgrade and less than a year until the analogue switch off.
- Increased demand for A2D converters will put pressure on the supply chain, lengthening the procurement process.
- Delayed decisions risk price increases as demand rises, alongside longer lead times as organisations vie for installation slots.
- Any problems or delays leave insufficient time to implement new equipment, resulting in rushed installations that may compromise quality.
Every month of delay increases your competition for industry resources. By late 2026, A2D converter stock will hit backorder levels and installer resources will be limited.
The bottom line is you need to move from planning to decisive action to secure your position ahead of the rush.
Why areA2D converters a popular solution?
A2D converters are the top strategic interim solution for those not able to complete a full digital upgrade this year. They offer a fast and cost-effective route to digital compliance, a key consideration with 40% challenged by financial restraints and high costs.
But not all converters are equal. Many models have a number of critical limitations that compromise safety and reliability. It's therefore vital to opt for a proven A2D converter that will maintain a complete telecare service.
This means the ability to:
- Handle both inbound and outbound calls
- Support call cataloguing
- Work with multiple protocols
Safe and reliable services are the main priority for the majority of housing providers (70.5%). When choosing an A2D converter, prioritising cost and speed of implementation at the expense of capability will undermine the very goals driving your move to digital compliance.
Act now to secure a safe transition
A large number of housing providers are planning to use A2Dconverters ahead of the impending switchover.
But you risk getting caught in a massive implementation bottleneck if you wait to execute your plans. This will lengthen your lead times, push up costs and ultimately jeopardise compliance before the January2027 deadline.
In contrast, acting early in 2026 allows for a planned, tested and safe migration. You can then be confident you’re ready for the switchover and have taken the necessary steps to protect the people relying on your telecare services.
Find out more about how the sector is preparing for the switchover and where the biggest challenges lie.
Download the complete Digital Readiness Report 2026
Or contact us to discuss your A2D converter implementation timeline to beat the bottleneck
