Interim solutions and the Analogue to Digital Transition in Grouped Living Environments/Schemes

This guidance is for organisations operating grouped living schemes that need to maintain existing analogue grouped alarm systems during the UK’s transition from analogue telephone networks to digital All-IP networks.

The UK telecommunications network is being upgraded by providers including Openreach, BT, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and Sky. All analogue PSTN lines are scheduled to be switched off by 31 January 2027, with the transition already taking place in phases across the country.

The migration creates risks for legacy alarm systems that rely on analogue communications, but also provides opportunities to improve connectivity, data, service delivery and operational resilience.

The guidance covers:

• Technical options and architectures for keeping existing analogue alarm systems operational.
• The relative robustness and resilience of different approaches.
• Testing, monitoring and operational controls needed to maintain reliable alarm communications.
• The complete communications pathway between the grouped alarm system and the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC).
• Key considerations for organisations implementing an interim solution while planning their longer-term transition to digital alarm communications.

An interim solution is an arrangement that allows an existing grouped alarm system with an analogue communications interface to continue operating after the external telecommunications network has migrated from analogue to IP.

The guidance is supplier-neutral. Its inclusion of particular technical architectures or service approaches does not represent TSA approval, certification or endorsement of any specific product or supplier.