By January 2027, analogue telephone services will be switched off as the UK’s telecoms infrastructure is upgraded to digital connectivity. This shift has urgent implications for the technology enabled care (TEC) sector and the millions of people who rely on telecare in the UK.

The transition has begun already with many telecom exchanges having converted over to fully digital. This is starting to affect functionality and connectivity today with particular risk from 2023 when BT will no longer sell analogue devices. Action and careful planning needs to begin now so that telecare and social alarm service reliability and safety is not compromised: that lives are not put at risk. Many in the sector have already started the process or completed it.

TSA calls on the TEC sector to ready themselves for the shift, upgrade their systems and recognise the opportunity digital connectivity represents to devise new service and product offerings.