The analogue-to-digital (A2D) switch-off is now less than a year away. By January 2027, the UK’s analogue phone network will be retired and for telecare services that still rely on it, the risks are increasing month by month. As our new whitepaper states, “every month you remain on analogue, you’re relying on a shrinking, less predictable foundation for critical alarms.”
For housing providers, local authorities and care organisations, this is the moment to move from awareness to action. With the right approach, the transition doesn’t need to feel disruptive or overwhelming. A structured, supported plan protects continuity of service for older and vulnerable people, while giving organisations clarity, control and confidence.
Why planning now is essential
Analogue telecare was built on a network designed for voice calls, not life-critical signalling. As the whitepaper explains, “analogue networks were never designed for modern telecare… the risk of silent failure increases” as legacy infrastructure is withdrawn.
Digital telecare, by contrast, delivers measurable improvements in:
- Speed of connection – removing the slow dial-and-handshake cycle of analogue.
- Reliability and resilience – with proactive monitoring and fewer call failures.
- Scalability – enabling flexible, future-ready service models.
This isn’t just a technology refresh. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen safety, modernise service delivery and build a platform for the next decade of technology-enabled care.
What a safe, phased transition looks like
One of the strongest messages from the whitepaper is that migration must be risk-led, not technology-led. As it notes, “successful migration is measured in safety outcomes, not technical milestones”. A safe, structured approach includes:
- Understanding your risk picture – mapping devices, cohorts, connection paths and vulnerabilities.
- Defining your future operating model – including where dispersed digital solutions offer better value and resilience.
- Validating before migrating – combining lab testing with real-world pilots across varied premises types.
- Phased rollout with continuous monitoring – ensuring issues are identified and resolved quickly.
- Clear communication with residents and families – making the change reassuring, not unsettling.
These steps are explored in detail in the whitepaper, along with case studies from organisations already progressing through their migrations.
Download the whitepaper
To support you through the transition, we’ve published a new whitepaper sharing practical guidance based on real-world migration experience including what a safe, phased approach can look like ahead of the 2027 switch-over.
👉 Download it here: https://resources.careium.co.uk/a2d-whitepaper-2026
How Careium can support your transition
We work alongside partners to create tailored migration plans that balance safety, operational needs and financial pressures. This includes flexible commercial models to make the move to digital achievable and sustainable for organisations of all sizes.
For organisations beginning to map out their transition, we’ve also created a dedicated resource hub to help you understand the steps involved, the risks of staying on analogue, and what a future‑ready digital model looks like. Visit our Preparing for a Digital Future page to explore practical guidance, FAQs and further support: