Some connections are too important to discover the hard way.
The PTSN switch-off is not simply a phone-system upgrade for care homes. It could affect services connected to resident safety, emergency response and continuity of care. Wanstor helps you identify those dependencies and plan a controlled migration without taking unnecessary risks with critical services.
Find every connection that supports resident safety and continuity of care
Some of the most important analogue lines are also the least visible.
Our readiness assessment helps care providers review potential dependencies across:
- Telecare and personal alarm devices
- Pendant and fall-detection equipment
- Emergency call systems
- Lift emergency phones
- Fire and intruder alarm signalling
- Door entry, gates and intercoms
- CCTV and remote monitoring
- Fax services and older medical equipment
- Main and out-of-hours phone lines
Complete the form and we’ll help you understand what needs closer investigation..
Alternatively, call our expert directly.
No obligation.
No assumptions about compatibility.
Just a clear view of the risks and next steps.
What we’ll check
Telecare dependencies
Identify equipment that calls monitoring centres or support teams through an existing phone line.
Emergency communications
Review lift lines, emergency phones and out-of-hours services that need to remain available.
Power and connectivity resilience
Digital voice requires power and connectivity at the premises. We’ll consider the need for appropriate resilience around critical services.
Multi-site consistency
We’ll help uncover differences between older homes, newer properties, supported-living locations and head-office systems.
Supplier coordination
Where specialist equipment is involved, the equipment or service provider may need to confirm whether it will work over a digital connection.
Hidden dependency check
We'll full scope out your estate to see exactly what depends on legacy connections.
What is changing?
The network is becoming digital. Critical care services must be ready with it.
The PSTN is being replaced by internet-based voice technology, with PSTN-reliant devices needing to be upgraded by January 2027.
That change matters particularly in care settings because traditional lines can sit underneath systems designed to summon help, report an alarm or connect a vulnerable person to support.
A digital phone system at reception does not prove that the wider home is ready.
The more important question is:
“Have we confirmed that every safety-critical device will still work?”
PSTN, ISDN and related legacy services are being withdrawn on 31 January 2027
Your phones may be digital. Is everything else?
When legacy services are withdrawn, a few other things may become exposed or stop working altogether.
Telecare and personal alarms
Some devices may not function correctly on digital services without modification, replacement or provider support.
Nurse-call dial-out
Internal nurse-call operation and external dial-out functionality should be checked separately.
Fire and security alarms
Alarm signalling may rely on a telephone line to reach a monitoring centre.
Lift emergency phones
Dedicated lift lines need to be identified and reviewed with the lift maintenance provider.
Resident and family communications
Main numbers, resident phones and out-of-hours routes need a controlled transition so your residents can still reach their loved ones.
Door entry and access control
Intercoms, gates and door-entry panels may contain older analogue components.
How Wanstor helps
Before you replace anything, find out what actually needs replacing.
Wanstor’s existing hospitality work includes network environments supporting EPOS, corporate connectivity and guest Wi-Fi, giving the messaging a credible wider-IT context rather than treating each analogue line in isolation
Here’s how we’ll work on it with you:
| Step One | Step Two | Step Three | Step Four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review | Assess |
Plan |
Migrate |
| Map homes, telephone lines, connected equipment and current suppliers. |
Prioritise systems connected to safety, resident welfare and operational continuity. | Define the migration route, testing requirements, resilience needs and supplier responsibilities.. | Support a controlled, site-by-site move with checks around affected services. |
This is not just an IT deadline. It is a safeguarding and continuity issue.
Care providers can’t afford to assume critical equipment will keep working after migration.
You may have acquired devices at different times, from different suppliers and across buildings of different ages. That can leave you with gaps in documentation or legacy lines that appear unused but still support equipment that only calls out during an emergency.
That’s why an early audit matters. It gives you time to check compatibility, involve specialist suppliers and put the right backup arrangements in place before you move any critical services.
The government’s PSTN charter also recognises the need for additional protections for vulnerable people as services move to digital technology.
Why Wanstor?
Because your phone provider may know the line. We understand what the venue needs to keep running.
- Safety-first discovery: We know exactly where priority lies and should be given: i.e. emergency, alarm and resident-support services.
- Site-by-site assessment: We’re familiar with the care environment and recognise that every home and building may be different.
- Wider technology context: As an one-stop-shop for IT we consider connectivity, networks, devices and telephony together as one.
- Clear responsibilities: We’re here to help identify where specialist equipment suppliers need to be involved.
- Phased migration: We plan the transition around operational risk rather than treating the whole estate as one standard deployment.
Wider IT context
Wanstor understands the wider IT environment, not just the individual line being replaced.
Hidden-dependency discovery
Support identifying overlooked systems before they become operational issues.
Interim connectivity options
Where a permanent solution needs more time, temporary connectivity may help reduce risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What systems could be affected by All IP Switch Off?
It’s not just your phones. Alarm and monitoring systems, lift emergency lines, payment terminals and door-entry systems may also rely on old analogue connections. If you don’t identify and migrate them to the right replacement, the switch-off could disrupt these critical services.
Will telecare devices automatically work on digital lines?
Not necessarily. BT advises customers to contact the relevant device provider to establish whether equipment is compatible or needs to be changed
We already use digital phones. Do we still need to check?
Yes. Digital phones don’t necessarily mean everything else is ready. Other services, sites or equipment may still rely on analogue connections, including alarms, lifts, payments and monitoring systems. That’s why it’s worth checking the wider business rather than assuming the phone migration has covered everything.
We have moved our main phone number. Could other risks remain?
Yes. Telecare, alarms, lifts, door entry and remote monitoring could use separate lines that were not included in the telephone migration.
What happens after we submit the form?
A Wanstor specialist will review the details you provide and confirm the most relevant next step within a few hours. There’s no obligation, and the aim is to understand what you’re concerned about and whether further assessment or migration support is needed.
Can Wanstor help if we have left All IP migration late?
Yes. Leaving it late doesn’t mean you’ve run out of options. Openreach will be applying EVAC lines to those who migrated too late. However, this is a costly and temporary solution. Wanstor can help identify what needs attention and accelerate the migration process. Where a permanent solution needs more time, interim options such as mobile or satellite connectivity can also be considered to help keep operations moving.
How long does All IP migration usually take?
There isn’t one migration timeline that fits every organisation. Ultimately, the timeline depends on what still relies on legacy services and the complexity of your sites and infrastructure. That’s why identifying dependencies early matters. However, we have rolled out migration services to customers within 2–4 weeks.
What happens to existing lines or providers?
You don’t necessarily need to change everything at once. Instead, we’ll first identify which existing services need to migrate and which can remain. We’ll also check whether any contractual or notice-period requirements apply before you make changes.
If a line supports care, safety or emergency response, it cannot be left to chance.
Find your remaining analogue dependencies and put a safe, practical migration plan in place.
Check your care estate