To ‘future-proof’ the country’s communications infrastructure the national phone network is being upgraded. By the end of 2025, all traditional analogue telephone lines will have been switched off and replaced by digital lines.
What does this mean for my lifeline alarm?
Your lifeline alarm currently works by connecting you to the telephone network through an analogue phone line. However, once your telephone network is upgraded to digital, your lifeline alarm will no longer work through your analogue phone line, rather an internet router. So, in order for your lifeline alarm to work you must have working internet at your home. Without this, your lifeline alarm will not work.
How will my lifeline alarm operate through a digital router?
Your network provider (BT, Virgin, Talk Talk etc.) will contact you to let you know that your network is being upgraded and will provide you with an Analogue Telephone Adaptor (ATA). The ATA will allow your lifeline alarm to plug into your internet router, allowing your lifeline alarm to remain connected.
As a lifeline alarm user (known as a “Special Service customer” to network providers) you will be referred to us, as the upgrade will change the way that your lifeline alarm communicates with our Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). It is important that you contact us about your upgrade, as the upgrade will mean that your lifeline alarm will no longer work for up to 24 hours in the case of a power cut, as (unlike analogue phone lines) internet routers do not contain a battery back-up.
For peace of mind that help will be available at the touch of a button (and even if there is a power cut) we have a range of SIM based digital lifeline alarms which can help to support you. These devices do not plug into a phone line and instead have on-board SIMs, which transmit alerts to our Alarm Receiving Centre. (A SIM is a microchip which connects devices to mobile phone networks).
The benefits of a digital lifeline alarm
- Lifeline alerts from a digital alarm are received much quicker than an analogue lifeline alarm
- A digital alarm has a ‘true roaming’ SIM built into it. Meaning it will always connect to the strongest mobile signal, to ensure that you remain connected wherever you are
- No matter how many alerts are sent, all charges are covered within the weekly digital alarm charge. (Unlike with an analogue lifeline alarm where the call charges are incurred by the landline bill payer)
- A digital alarm does not need to be plugged into a phone wall socket, just a standard power socket, meaning it can be plugged in closer to you, allowing you to communicate to our ARC more easily through your lifeline alarm
If you are an existing lifeline alarm user and you are contacted by your communications provider (BT, Virgin, Sky, Talk Talk, etc.) about upgrading your network connection from analogue to digital please contact us so that we can ensure that your lifeline alarm will work on the digital connection. Additionally, to find out more about our digital lifeline alarms please call 01372 204500 or email mvlife@molevalley.gov.uk
Ofcom have provided more information on the Digital Switchover 2025.