Digital Voice - The Digital Switchover
Digital Voice - The Digital Switchover
How the Digital Switchover Affects Personal Alarms – What You Need to Know
The UK’s phonelines are undergoing an extensive upgrade known as the Digital Switchover. You may have received a letter or email from your landline provider informing you that the upgrade is coming to your area. If you or a loved one are a Careline alarm user, you may be wondering whether these changes will affect your personal alarm service in any way.
We are leading the way through the digital switchover, keeping you connected with the latest personal alarm technology. We've created this guide to talk you through the upcoming changes and tell you everything you need to know.
What is the Digital Switchover?
Currently, the UK’s phone network is connected by copper wires. This is known as the analogue network. However, BT has announced that by 2025 this network will no longer be supported and all phonelines will be switched to a digital network. This new network will use the internet to connect phone calls, using a system known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
How the Digital Switchover Affects Personal Alarms
Historically, traditional analogue personal alarms are plugged into your home’s landline connection. They then use the analogue network to connect your alert call to your alarm provider’s monitoring centre. However, the digital switchover will impact how personal alarms connect to your service provider.
To continue connecting, analogue alarms will need to be plugged into your internet router. This may require an Analogue Telephone Adaptor. However, Careline365 provide the SmartLife Alarm, which keeps you connected without requiring a phoneline.
Your personal alarm may be affected differently depending on your broadband provider.
Unsure whether your personal alarm will work with your router? Call your broadband provider and let them know you have a Careline alarm. They will explain how to keep it working after you have been upgraded.
How is Careline365 Preparing for the Digital Switchover?
At Careline365, our priority is keeping you connected to our 24/7 Care Team to support your wellbeing at home.
Our analogue alarms will continue to work following the digital switchover. However, you will need to plug them in differently and may require an Analogue Telephone Adaptor. If you have any concerns about using analogue alarms after your area has been upgraded, please don’t hesitate to call our team on 08001013333.
For additional reassurance during and after the digital switchover, consider switching to a digital personal alarm product. At Careline365, we offer two digital devices: the Careline GPS Pendant and our most recent release, the SmartLife Alarm. These alarms use a SIM card like what you would find in a mobile phone to send alerts to our Care Team.
This means that our digital alarm options do not require a phoneline or internet connection to keep you safe at home.
When Will I Be Upgraded?
When it comes time for your area to be upgraded to the new digital network, you will receive a letter or email from your phone service provider letting you know when the upgrade will take place. Once you receive this information, if you are a Careline365 customer, please let us know so that we can support you through the process.
What you do next will depend on whether you already have a broadband connection or not. For further advice, please consult your phone provider.
If you have broadband:
If you have an analogue alarm and want to keep it, you will need to contact your broadband provider. Let them know that you have a Careline alarm installed and that your area is being upgraded to the new digital system. They will be able to provide instructions on how to connect your personal alarm to your broadband router.
If you don't have broadband:
You don’t need to immediately purchase a broadband plan. Contact your telephone service provider and let them know that you don’t have broadband but have a Careline alarm. You can ask to delay your digital upgrade until you have broadband.
However, if you want to continue using your analogue alarm, you will need to set up a broadband connection, otherwise the switchover will continue and you will no longer be covered by your personal alarm plan.
Digital alarms:
If you already have a digital alarm – such as the SmartLife Digital Alarm or GPS Personal Alarm – you will not need to do anything. They will continue to send alerts to our Care Team whether you have been upgraded or not. If you would prefer not to get broadband or are worried your analogue alarm will not work, we recommend upgrading to one of our digital products for extra peace of mind.
The SmartLife is the futureproof option, developed and manufactured by Careline365. It will not be affected by changes to the nation’s phonelines.
After you upgrade
Once you have upgraded your alarm, we ask that you perform a test to make sure your alarm is working correctly. If you experience any problems, please get in touch with our customer service team on 08001013333.
