My mother also has a fall alarm, so similar issues looming, though she does also have Broadband (for my benefit, rather than hers )

She'll be fine, because I'll rewire her extension network to the phone port of whatever router she'll be supplied with for PSTN switch off.

However, I wonder how many people are affected, and have landline only services ?

Is it worth all the care companies forming a service providing company that could provide a VoIP 'landline' service (as a client of Openreach) and install bespoke devices to ease the problem ?

Or is the user base too small ?
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These care companies have had close to a decade to work out multi-path alarm bases, connected via ethernet and then failing over to a SIM if necessary. They've done nothing because the way they operate is primarily by marketing themselves to local authorities to achieve near monopoly status while reselling low quality goods manufactured by a third-party at a large markup.

Intruder alarms and fire alarms have been dual path for ages, there's no reasonable excuse that care alarm manufacturers can come up with that would excuse them still happy to sell you a device that only connects to a PSTN line in 2022.

The only one I've found is this https://www.tunstall.co.uk/our-products/product-cata...

Mobile phone is no good to my mum as the signal for all providers is very weak.

If in an area where full fibre is available then this maybe installed just to deliver the digital voice service.

Another provider specialising in digital phone services for pensioners: https://www.simpletelecoms.co.uk/Telephone-line-for-...

In reply to a post by cymru123:

If in an area where full fibre is available then this maybe installed just to deliver the digital voice service.

Another provider specialising in digital phone services for pensioners: https://www.simpletelecoms.co.uk/Telephone-line-for-...

Migration from another provider
Includes moving your number
Includes ATA (pre-configured CIsco) and Postage
One off setup cost £77.50

That cost from simpletelecoms is not too bad. With other providers a porting charge of about £15 seems average and an ATA (not pre-configured) may cost approx £50...

Many of the older PSTN based alarms won't work over VoIP connections because of the way the signalling works.

My mum has one and the company that provided it are going to replace hers with a compatible model in the next few months.

Ethernet/WiFI/IP based models (or ‘dialler’ cards) should be more responsive and flexible anyway. Whether that’s intruder or personal safety type alarms.

Dual path types, as noted, being the most resilient.

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I don't want to put too many personal details on a public forum.

I've lived here for 30+ years now, and this is just someone we've got to know a little from seeing them around, gardening, village events etc. She does have internet, mostly for email, a bit of surfing (BBC websites, news, weather). Zoom since the pandemic, if someone else sets it up. I've helped on a couple of occasions sorting out email problems.

The family haven't asked me to help with this. The lady just happened to mention last time we met that her daughter had told her she should switch. She mentioned Vodafone, but I think that's just an example of a cheapo ISP, not one that's been thoroughly evaluated. She didn't mention her care alarm, and I suspect the daughter hasn't thought about that at all. I've seen the thing when I've visited, but never looked at it carefully. I think it may be a Tunstall, but no idea what model.

She has never switched, doesn't know how to go about it, and doesn't want the hassle. I've advised her to make very sure that her phone company knows about the alarm. I hope that her family will get more involved and organise it, but they're not very local. As I said at the beginning, I'm just trying to keep tabs in case the lady does ask for help.

I tend to think she may be better not switching, because I think BT may do a better job for vulnerable customers than some of the cowboys out there.

The care alarms can be upgraded to an IP based version - some with a 3/4/5G back-up.

I am just looking into it for someone.

In reply to a post by MHC:

The care alarms can be upgraded to an IP based version - some with a 3/4/5G back-up.

Hopefully not just 3G though - the 3G networks are all being turned off shortly too.