International
France
Building a More Connected, Independent Future
As the UK prepares for the phase-out of analogue technology in 2027, the care sector faces an urgent yet promising transition. This isn’t just about replacing ageing technology, it’s about reimagining care to better support the lives of older adults, their families, and the professionals who care for them.
The switch to digital offers new opportunities for more reliable and person-centred services. With over a quarter of the UK population projected to be over 65 by 2050, digital telecare helps us meet the rising demand while enabling older people to lead safer, more independent lives.
We are already managing more than half a million digital alarm calls each month. This experience means we understand both current user needs and how best to prepare for the future.
The transition to digital promises benefits we’ve never seen before.”
Gary Clark, Technical Director, Careium
Why Analogue Infrastructure Needs to Change
The UK has relied on analogue communication networks for more than a century, but the copper-based infrastructure is ageing, harder to maintain, and increasingly prone to failures. With BT and other network providers committed to ending analogue services by 2027, the switch to digital is no longer optional, it’s essential.
Many network providers have already gone fully digital, and as of 2023, BT stopped selling analogue devices altogether. This marks the true start of the transition, with all landlines to be upgraded in the coming years.
This shift mirrors the earlier transition from analogue to digital TV, but this time the stakes are higher. Telecare is a vital lifeline for vulnerable individuals. Delays or failures in these systems could have serious consequences.
Navigating the Transition Safely
To stay ahead of the curve, telecare service providers must act now. According to the Telecare Services Association (TSA), many providers still haven’t begun the process of updating their analogue equipment. This delay could put users at risk as call failures become more frequent with incompatible networks.
Analogue devices use DTMF tones to transmit data. On digital networks, this information is broken into data packets, increasing the risk of miscommunication or failure. In fact, calls from analogue devices fail on first attempt in 10% of cases.
Digital telecare devices avoid this issue by maintaining consistent, secure communication. Many of our devices also support both 2G and 4G, ensuring reliability as network providers gradually phase out 3G services.
No one in our society should fall through the cracks.”
Peter Wallström, Category Manager, Careium
User Case: Falkirk Council’s Digital Transformation
Falkirk Council was the first local authority in Scotland to go live with an end-to-end digital telecare service. The council’s “life and limb” Mobile Emergency Care Service (MECS) traditionally relied on analogue phone lines to operate. Working with us, the project team replaced 3,335 analogue MECS alarm systems in people’s homes with pre-programmed, digital-ready ones.
The Council and Partnership were awarded the Gold Level 1 Digital Telecare Implementation Award by the Digital Telecare for Scottish Local Government Programme in recognition of this achievement.
Pauline Waddell, MECS Team Manager, Falkirk Council, said: “The main thing that Careium alarms have brought to people in Falkirk is safety. We were worried because we could see that the analogue system was failing, and so it became paramount that we completed this transfer as quickly as possible.
Visit our UK website to learn more about our partnership with Falkirk Council.
Meeting the Needs of an Ageing Population
Around one in five people in the UK was aged 65 or over in 2019, and this is set to increase to one in four by 2043. With increased longevity comes a rise in long-term health conditions: 75% of 75-year-olds have more than one chronic illness.
This growing demand is placing strain on social care. The adult care workforce numbers 1.5 million, yet there were over 112,000 vacancies in 2020. While more people are requesting care, fewer are receiving formal support.
Our solutions help bridge this gap. Digital telecare allows older adults to remain at home, offering flexibility and security. A digital alarm reduces connection times from up to 90 seconds to just 5–10 seconds, improving safety and peace of mind.
Devices such as our GPS alarms provide mobility. Thanks to them having modern designs, users feel comfortable and confident wearing or using them daily.
User Case: Östersund Municipality, Sweden
In Östersund municipality, Sweden, local authority turned to technology enabled care to address staffing shortages and rising care needs.
The municipality introduced technical aids such as night vision cameras and GPS alarms to make life easier for both users and their relatives.
Åsa Trolle, Unit Director at Östersund municipality, said: “We can give the elderly a GPS watch and the security of knowing they can alert us if something happens. The positioning function enables us to locate the person, and we can also phone them. We can only see advantages with this product.”
Read more about Östersund and how they have implemented the use of telecare in their organisation.
Improving Experience for Users and Providers
Digital telecare brings real advantages to users. Devices are always online and regularly communicate with monitoring centres, ensuring reliability and rapid fault detection. Status checks can run every two minutes, a significant upgrade from monthly or manual analogue checks.
Software updates, maintenance and testing can be done remotely, minimising disruptions and travel costs. For providers, this means operational savings and faster response times. Our cloud-based monitoring platform allows for intelligent call routing and better allocation of resources.
Users also benefit from improved audio quality and user-friendly two-way communication. Our roaming SIM cards automatically connect to the strongest available mobile network, ensuring consistent coverage wherever users are.
Looking Ahead: From Fixed Lines to Freer Lives
As we move away from fixed lines, mobile telecare becomes the new standard. Our devices support users whether they are at home or enjoying time outdoors. In Sweden, 95% of digital alarms now use mobile connectivity, demonstrating the feasibility and acceptance of this approach.
In France, Europ Assistance is using our solutions to reach a younger, more mobile demographic. GPS alarms have proven especially effective, offering both GPS tracking and the ability to alert caregivers directly.
By taking steps today, care providers can ensure continuity, safety, and dignity for users – and benefit from more efficient, reliable service models.
Last updated: July 8, 2025
Discover more
- Our GPS alarms offer safety and security
- Find more user cases on our page Future of Care.
- Are you interested in what we have to offer in the UK? Visit our UK website and learn more.
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