What is the Digital Switchover: Free Care Provider Support Page

What is an analogue system?

Analogue systems use copper wire. These systems are often referred to as telecare and can include alarms and motion sensors. However, essential infrastructure systems used in care settings, such as emergency alarms in lifts, telephone landlines, and CCTV are often analogue too. These will be need to be transferred to digital.

Can I wait  till 2025 (now January 2027)?

Whilst the complete shut down of analogue isn’t until December 2025 (now January 2027), now is the time to act! It can take up to 6 months to complete a full transfer services to digital. As we get closer to the deadline, more organisations (and not just care services) will be seeking to transfer their systems, so internet and broadband suppliers will be facing an overwhelming demand.

Will the switch-off be all at once?

No. There are certain parts of the country are already transferring over from analogue to digital. Speak to your broadband supplier to learn if your region is transferring before December 2025 (now January 2027).

What is VoIP?

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is a telephony system that enables an organisation to make voice calls using internet connection (digital) instead of a regular phone line (analogue). Please see our jargon buster that breaks down the abbreviations.

What are the benefits from switching to VoIP?

The main impact will be long-term cost savings. VoIP can be extremely cost effective, with organisations saving up to £456 per year. Moving your phone system to digital can save further money, as there will be no need for line rental and associated maintenance or infrastructure costs. There is also safeguarding benefits too, as it is easier to black list unwanted calls from fraudsters and telemarketers, and white listing family members and key contacts.

Are there any disadvantages to VoIP?

All systems have new ways of working have disadvantages as well as benefits, and VoIP is not excluded from this group. Although there are cost savings and operational improvements to VoIP, it is reliant on stable internet connection. If an organisation does not have suitable internet connection in place, call quality may become jittery. Furthermore, if there are power cuts, an organisation would lose access to their devices too. It is therefore important that contingency plans are in place and back-up connectivity infrastructure is in place too (such as cellular devices).

How do I upgrade?

The best first step is to speak to your broadband supplier. Be proactive! Your supplier should be reaching out to you. but that does not mean they will. Take the initiative and  speak to your internet supplier to learn what services will be impacted. If services are impacted, upgrade as soon as possible. Installation and upgrading new broadband can take up to six months (potentially longer), and there can always be ‘mishaps’ along the way – so it is important to upgrade in plenty of time with a contingency/back-up plan in place.

What about Telecare Devices?

In 2017, leading communication providers announced their intention to switch all existing telephone lines from analogue to digital. This is an industry-led change and not government policy. This is a change from the old copper analogue landline network to digitally enabled landlines that transfer voice calls over an internet connection. The UK has relied on analogue telephony for decades, but the aging network is now increasingly unreliable. 

The digital phone switchover means traditional telecare devices, such as telephone handsets and telecare units that are currently connected to the analogue landline network, will need to be reconnected to the digital network. 

An analogue telecare device may not function as intended in homes with an internet connection, or that have been upgraded as part of the nationwide analogue-to-digital landline switchover.  

If you are buying a telecare device: 

·       Check compatibility: Before purchasing or using an analogue telecare device, confirm it is suitable for your landline type by contacting your device provider as soon as possible (which could be your local council, a private telecare supplier or another organisation). 

If you already have a telecare device: 

·       Contact your communication provider: Inform your communication provider that you have a telecare service in your home, so that you are not migrated without functioning telecare. 

·       Contact your service provider: Contact your telecare service provider to check if your device is compatible with the digital network and then inform your communication provider. 

Stay informed: If the telecom engineer comes to your home to complete your upgrade, please let them know you have a telecare alarm and show them where it is. When the switchover is complete, ask them to help you test if it works. 

See Digital phone switchover for more information. 

Do I need to switch to fibre broadband?

Yes. As your service will be becoming more reliant on internet and WIFI connectivity, you will most likely need to review your current infrastructure and increase its capacity. Upgrading your broadband connect to a fibre line will improve speed, scalability and a more reliable internet connection. Copper broadband lines are being phased out as part of the switch-off and you will no longer have access to the internet via copper lines. Orbital Net recommend four routes an organisation can take (please see jargon buster for more information: Leased Line; FTTP; SoGEA; and Wireless Fibre.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of fibre?

Advantages range from: greater bandwidth (faster connection speeds); faster download speeds; increased signal strength over longer distances; ability to connect more devices; more reliable and scalable.

Disadvantages: it is more expensive (but leads to a better internet service); depending on current infrastructure and devices, you may need to upgrade older devices used; there are potential installation costs; contingency plans will need to be in place in an power cut.

What could happen if I do not switch?

There could be significant impact for both your organisation and the delivery of care provided to residents and service users. Impact could include, potential loss of phone communications, CCTV no longer working, loss of access to WIFI if current internet connection is not strong enough, loss of access to alarms and telecare devices.