MCS Safe Places, Safe People blog

Maintaining continuity of emergency alarm signalling during the UK's transition to digital voice

By January 2027 the UK’s copper wire telecommunications network - the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) – will migrate to a fully digital network.

For many consumers and businesses, this transition is likely to be straightforward and will require minimal change. However, for organisations whose analogue connection maintains the operation of critical life safety and security alarm systems, the implications of transition are more challenging.

Copper wire analogue landlines feature a low voltage power connection to local exchanges. This means that devices or systems connected to the analogue landline – such as telecare systems, elevator, security and fire alarms – remain operational. Digital landlines are supplied through fibre-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) broadband technology and therefore do not feature ‘hard-wired’ power connections. Upgraded digital solutions provide integrated backup power to maintain emergency alarm signalling in the case of a power cut.

It's not just telecommunications services that the UK’s PSTN has supported for many decades. Emergency alarm signalling, connected to monitoring centres, relies upon connections to the PSTN.

The transition away from PSTN to digital networks affects many organisations who currently rely upon emergency alarm monitoring. Across multiple occupancy sectors such as social housing and student accommodation, PSTN connections support alarm signalling across fire systems, elevators, and security systems. Retirement living and residential care operators may rely upon PSTN not just for the operation of life safety systems but for telecare and health monitoring systems too.

Keeping emergency alarm signalling safe and operational

The key to successfully managing the transition to digital networks lies in planning for and adoption of Internet-based signalling technology.

The transition process may not be as involved or costly as you may think.

Assessment of your PSTN-linked systems can often take place as part of a routine maintenance visit. Installation of upgraded digital signalling systems generally only takes days, rather than weeks or months. 

McIntyre Compliance Services are supporting over 60% of our public sector customers to transition to digital alternatives, ensuring that critical life safety and security systems remain fully operational.

There are some simple steps your organisation can take to assess the resilience of your emergency alarm signalling.

• Inspect and assess any PSTN-dependent connections to your life safety and security alarm systems. Openreach and your own telecommunications network provider should be able to advise. And specialist safety compliance, fire safety or security suppliers contracted to your organisation can also support here
  
  
• If your life safety and alarm signalling systems are PSTN-dependent and need to be upgraded to Internet Protocol (IP) based alternatives, draw upon expertise and advice from your maintenance or specialist safety compliance suppliers to identify the appropriate digital solution.

For more information on the PSTN switch-off and move to Digital Voice check out Openreach guidance: https://business.bt.com/insights/uk-pstn-switch-off/ or UK Government guidance: UK transition from analogue to digital landlines - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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