What Almshouses must do about the digital switchover

The digital switchover poses an immediate operational risk to Almshouses across the UK. To safeguard your residents ahead of the 31st January 2027 deadline, urgent action is required.  

The UK’s telecoms network is changing from the analogue PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) to digital.

But your emergency alarm equipment was built for the analogue network and will not work reliably with digital. They essentially speak different languages, causing a number of issues including delay, distortion and call failure.

Why you must act now

You have a critical duty to protect vulnerable residents by upgrading your equipment by the 31^st January 2027 deadline.

First Time Call Failures – which occur when an alarm fails to connect to the monitoring centre on the initial attempt – have risen as the switchover has progressed. Rates currently average 28%, with certain equipment reaching 42%.

This puts your residents in a vulnerable position as they can face lengthy waits for help, with potentially serious consequences.

How our free guide can help

Navigating the transition to digital telecare brings unique challenges, from managing listed heritage status and aesthetic preservation to handling budget and operational gaps.

Our free guide, "Your emergency alarm equipment is at risk: What to do about the digital switchover," gives you a clear roadmap to navigate the transition with confidence.

Inside the guide, you’ll discover:

• How analogue signal scrambling creates dangerous call delays .

• A comparison of key solutions: Analogue-to-Digital (A2D) converters vs. full digital upgrades .

• Practical ways to overcome installation challenges in listed and historical buildings .

• An action plan to prepare before the deadline.