The digital switch and your home insurance

The UK is transitioning to digital technology, replacing traditional landlines with a fibre optic network. The transition is ongoing across the UK with efforts to ensure that all regions are covered by the new fibre optic network by the extended deadline of January 2027.

The digital switch in the UK will affect several products and services that rely on the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Key examples include:

• Landline Phones: Traditional landline phones will no longer function and will need to be replaced with digital alternatives like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones
• Alarm Systems, both intruder and fire, that rely on landlines for central monitoring will need to be updated to work with digital networks
• Telecare Systems used for remote health monitoring and emergency alerts, often used by elderly or vulnerable individuals, will need to be upgraded to digital systems
• Older CCTV systems that use landlines for remote monitoring
• Some electricity meters depend on a landline connection for data transmission and will need to be replaced

Here we look at why this is important and how could it affect your home insurance. We also look at the pending closure of BT Redcare.

What is happening to BT Redcare products?

Last year BT Redcare, the security and fire alarm signalling service, announced the closure of its operations with effect from 31st July 2025. BT Redcare is a monitored alarm system which ensures that the appropriate services are notified in the event of an alarm being triggered. You can read more about this is our article: BT Redcare and home insurance

AddSecure have since announced that they will take on BT Redcare products, however only their next generation systems. If you have any of the following monitoring systems, they will cease to operate on 31st July.

• BT Redcare Classic
• BT Redcare Secure 2
• BT Redcare Secure 3
• BT Redcare Secure IP
• BT Redcare GSM

It is estimated that 50,000 properties have these alarms.

Why is this important?

If having a central station alarm (either intruder or fire) is a condition of your home insurance policy, you could find yourself uninsured in the event of a theft or fire claim after that date.

Will all BT Redcare products be affected?

BT Redcare Advanced, Advanced Extra, Essential Extra, Essential, Essential IP and Ultimate will remain working under the AddSecure brand. Your alarm company should contact you about this.

Is the switch to digital only affecting BT Redcare products?

No, any alarm which relies on a landline for central service monitoring will be affected. This includes CSL/Dualcom alarms. It is estimated that 100,000 properties have these alarms. You may have a little longer to upgrade these systems, depending on when your telephone exchange switches to digital. You can check here: https://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/where-when-building-ultrafast-full-fibre-broadband

I’m unsure what communications signal my alarm uses, what should I do?

Contact your alarm company to check what alarm system you have in place. If it is a legacy BT Redcare system as noted above you will need work to your alarm panel, perhaps a simple switch of communications board to a different system. It may be more complicated for older systems.

Before changing your alarm signalling method, we recommend that you speak to your insurer or as you will need to make sure that your new alarm meets insurer requirements.

Will my alarm company get in touch with me?

If your alarm is using a landline for central service monitoring then your alarm company should have made contact and discussed switching your alarm to a digital signal. If you haven’t heard from your alarm company then we recommend you reach out them.

If your alarm company has recently updated your alarm, then please let your broker or insurer know. You will need to make sure that any communications unit replacement meets the terms of your insurance policy.

How Howden can help

Before replacing your alarm, we recommend that you speak to a specialist broker like Howden. We’ll make sure that your new alarm meets insurer requirements and, as prevention is better than cure, can talk to you about your security arrangements, potential upgrades and, if appropriate, introduce you to our recommended security companies.

To speak to Howden about your insurance, please call 020 8256 4901 or email privateclients@howdeninsurance.co.uk