Housing providers are running out of time. Digital compliance is crucial to protect vital telecare services – but what if you can't complete a full upgrade by January 2027? We explore how analogue to digital converters can assist your switchover strategy and why you must ensure these have the essential capabilities you need.
With less than 12 months until the analogue network is turned off, organisations must be realistic about their digital plans. For those yet to upgrade, an interim solution is now a critical necessity to ensure residents stay safe in the face of rising first time call failures.
Nearly half the market sees analogue to digital (A2D) converters as the answer.
But, while converters offer a quick route to digital, speed of compliance should not come at the cost of capability. It’s important to select a proven model that properly maintains your existing services for the people relying on these.
How can A2D converters assist with the switchover?
A2D converters are a legitimate alternative for housing providers unable to achieve a full upgrade during 2026. These translate analogue signals into a format the digital network understands.
Benefits of A2D converters:
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Mitigate risks of first time call failures: First time call failures have been steadily rising as analogue equipment struggles to work over the new digital network. A2D converters resolve these compatibility issues to keep services operating safety.
“A2D converters are a really good solution to give you the time you need to plan your digital upgrades. You don't have to have a massive cash injection, you can spread that cost over the course of quite a few years.” Rianna Wilkinson, Sovereign Network Group
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Cost effective solution: A2D converters have a much lower price point. This is helpful if you have a limited budget or a large portfolio requiring phased implementation.
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Straightforward to implement: A2D converters are relatively quick to install, depending on the number of sites involved.
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Maintain existing warden call systems: A2D converters let you retain your hardwired warden call systems, keeping these robust hardwired assets active and safe as you work towards your digital transition.
- Stronger choice than other interim solutions: A2D converters are not the only interim option but the alternatives, such as pre-digital phone lines and dispersed alarms, are problematic for a number of reasons. For example, dispersed alarms aren't designed for a complex hardwired environment and may result in an unintended change to the property's classification.
What are the limitations of A2D converters?
Compatibility issues are understandably a concern for 46% of the sector. Organisations are right to be wary as not all converters are equal. In particular, you need to make sure your chosen converter will maintain a complete telecare service to avoid compromising resident safety.
Limitations of A2D converters include:
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Not a permanent solution: A2D converters are not future proof; they can only preserve existing telecare capabilities. Sustaining analogue technology will become increasingly difficult and costly, so a full digital upgrade will still be necessary as you move forward.
“Installing A2D converters achieved a number of immediate benefits. Housing 21 has a full roll-out plan to convert all sites to fully digital warden call systems. Converters are considered a temporary but important interim solution. These allow us to maintain safety and national consistency during the transition period.” Jacob Sprayson, Housing 21
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Not always suitable for telecare: Many basic models only support a partial service. They’re unable to deal with inbound calls or use in-call controls, essential features for an effective emergency response.
- Not a full digital upgrade: A2D converters are simply there to maintain current services. They do not offer the wider benefits of digital.
Despite these limitations, A2D converters can play a useful role in your digital strategy. But they must be carefully sourced to ensure they will do what you need. They should also only be viewed as an interim option to bridge the analogue to digital gap.
Your next steps – beat the 2026 bottleneck
As we count down to the analogue switch off, digital compliance is non-negotiable. First time call failures pose a very real and ongoing threat, delaying emergency responses and putting residents at risk.
Almost half the market recognises A2D converters as a practical alternative to a full upgrade. With careful implementation, they are a safe and cost effective solution, helping organisations continue to deliver reliable services (the top priority for 89%) while managing long-term operational costs.
But demand is set to surge during 2026. The industry simply won’t have the capacity to support this if everyone waits until later in the year to act. This will result in price increases, project delays and the danger of missing the digital deadline completely.
To beat the bottleneck, you need to:
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Act now – secure installation capacity while it's available and allow time for planned, tested implementation.
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Plan your full upgrade – A2D converters buy you time but a full digital transition remains the ultimate goal.
- Choose wisely – ensure you choose a proven A2D converter that will maintain a complete telecare service, work with multiple protocols and support inbound calling.
“With the digital switchover now imminent, the challenge is no longer just technical, it is about capacity, logistics, and speed of delivery at a national level. At Sentinel we understand A2D converters are the most effective way of helping housing providers maintain continuity of service while they take the time needed to select the right long-term digital solutions for their schemes.” Ryan Mullen, Sentinel
Still weighing your options? Watch our latest webinar
Watch Appello, Hanover Scotland and Thame and District Housing discuss how to navigate the digital switchover bottleneck and the interim solutions available: A2D converters, pre-digital phone lines (PDPL) and dispersed alarms.
Watch here: Navigating the 2026 Telecare Bottleneck – Evaluating the Safest Interim Solutions to 2027
