What is the digital switchover?
The UK's traditional analogue phone network (often called the PSTN) is being retired and replaced with modern digital technology. As part of this, old landline-based equipment, including some older personal alarms, may stop working reliably once a line is switched to digital.
The national deadline has now been extended to 31 January 2027. That extra time is welcome, but it doesn't mean there's nothing to do, it means there's a comfortable window to make sure vulnerable people aren't caught out.
Why it matters for personal alarms
If a loved one relies on an older alarm that plugs into a landline, it's worth checking now whether it will keep working through the change. The last thing any family wants is to discover a safety device has gone quiet at the moment it's needed.
The good news: Red Button is already digital-ready
Both of our packages are built for the digital future from day one:
- They work over the mobile network, not a landline, so they're unaffected by the PSTN switch-off.
- No phone line or broadband is required, and there's nothing to reconfigure when your line changes.
- Everything arrives ready to use straight out of the box.
If you're choosing a new alarm today, you're choosing one that's ready for the switchover, with no nasty surprises down the line.
What you can do now
Check whether any existing alarm in your household is landline-based, and speak to the provider about its digital readiness. If you'd like a fully digital, mobile-connected alarm with 24/7 UK monitoring, our team is happy to help you choose.
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