The BT Redcare closure has forced many security providers to review their alarm signalling offering, prompting an inevitable change for a sector where, in many cases, older legacy equipment has been in place for years. With the PSTN switch-off now moving to the forefront as its January 2027 closure date fast approaches, the industry is under further pressure to ensure that modern alarm infrastructure is used as part of longer-term planning, rather than a reactive requirement as each switch-off occurs, say Nicholas Whiting, VP Alarm Signalling,ย AddSecure UK, and Roger Kay, Associate Director, at the London-based alarm, CCTV, safe and lock installation company Banham Securityโฏ.
Replacing legacy signalling like-for-like is often seen as the quickest way toย maintainย service continuity, especially when resource planning and customer communications are already demanding installerโs attention. However, focusing solely onย like-for-likeย replacements will limit the longer-term value of an alarm signalling solution.ย With this approach thereโsย inevitableย risk that further work will beย neededย laterย down the lineย to support IP-first connectivity, newย featuresย or emerging customer expectationsย as older networks are switched off. Repeated site visits increase cost and engineerย time andย can make change feelย muchย more disruptive than it needs to be.
By building-in future capability duringย initialย upgrades, providers can reduce duplication of effort,ย makeย operational workflowsย perform betterย and create systems thatย remainย robust as technology continues to evolve.
Migrating Banhamโs monitored alarm estate
One example of this is Banham Securityโs recent migration project, whichย demonstratesย how upcoming network changes can be used to not only replace legacy devices, but also strengthen infrastructure for the future. Rather than treating the BT Redcareย shutdownย as a like-for-like swap exercise, the company reviewed its wider monitored estate and considered what solution would support both immediate continuity and longer-term resilience. Withย theย existing knowledge ofย AddSecureโsย platform and services, and confidence in its suitability for legacyย migrations, Banhamย Securityย opted for a route that would bothย maintainย security grading and ensure future capability.
Working with Addsecure ensured that upgrades were completed with minimal disruption for customers, while also reducing the likelihood of additional engineering work further down the line. This meant work was carried out in a single, planned transition instead of multiple visits, demonstrating how early planning and platform familiarity can help providers move through industry change at a steady, manageable pace.
When lookingย at futureproofing systems for customers, itย is important to selectย solutions that offer flexibilityย whilstย also being capable of integrating withย newย IP,ย cloudย or dual-path infrastructureย as upgrades occur. Compatibility is a key part of this approach. If upgraded equipment can work across a range ofย technologies andย panels, including older installations, it becomes easier toย maintainย estates without repeat visits or extensive rewiring.
Resilience and connectivity also play an increasinglyย important roleย in the futureproofing of alarm systems. As the PSTN switch-off progresses, providers who adopt signalling capable of operating overย wi-fi, secure IoT connectivityย or IP are better placed to adaptย as networks are modernised.ย Hardwareย that is designed with the installer in mindย make a difference too,ย for exampleย anย OLEDย displayย that can provide quick visual diagnostics,ย helping teams carry out upgrades efficiently and with fewer touchpointsย –ย particularly when rollout volumes are high.
Byย choosing technology that can evolve alongside regulation, insurance expectations and customer demands, alarm providers can complete necessary migrations now while setting themselves up for smoother transitions ahead.
The long term-benefits
The change brought about by theย BTย Redcareย and PSTNย closureย has highlighted how quickly technology expectations can shift in the alarm sector.ย Whilstย replacement work is necessaryย to continue operations,ย the closureย doesย presentย an opportunityย to provideย alarm signallingย infrastructure that is ready for what comes next.ย Banhamย Securityโs approach, for instance,ย demonstratesย how thinking beyond immediate replacementsย can create long-term benefits, reducing the likelihood ofย having to return to site to replace alarms,ย andย alsoย helpingย maintainย serviceย continuity for end users.
For many security companies,ย any network and technologyย closureย offers a natural point toย assess yourย estate strategyย andย identifyย where legacy equipment could limit future capability.ย Planning with longevity in mind ensures that systems installed today remain robust asย alarm signalling technologyย evolves.ย Thinking beyond legacy alarm replacement is not just about managing the present,ย itโsย about putting the foundations in place for a more resilient and future-ready alarm network.
