The UK’s analogue telephone network is being switched off by January 2027. While the deadline may feel distant, its impact on lift emergency communications is already being felt, particularly in the social housing sector.
England’s social housing sector comprises around 4.5 million homes, including local authority housing and properties owned by housing associations. In many of these buildings, lifts are not a convenience, they are essential for accessibility, independence and safety.
Many lifts still rely on analogue phone lines to support two-way emergency alarms. As these lines are migrated or withdrawn, alarms can fail silently, leaving residents at risk and housing providers exposed to serious compliance and liability issues.
For social housing organisations responsible for vulnerable residents, this is not simply a technology upgrade. It is a safety-critical issue that requires urgent, structured action.
Analogue Switch Off in the UK
Why This Matters
Historically, lift alarms have relied on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to provide a reliable dial tone. As analogue lines are replaced with digital services, that reliability can no longer be assumed.
When analogue lines are migrated without proper planning:
- Legacy autodiallers may not detect a dial tone
- Test calls may stop without triggering alerts
- Alarms may appear functional but fail during an emergency
This creates a “silent failure” scenario, one of the most dangerous outcomes for a safety-critical system.
These risks are not theoretical. Failures are already being identified during inspections and call-out visits.
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It gives you:
- Ask the right questions about your lift emergency phones
- Clarify who is responsible for ongoing battery and SIM management
- Understand EN 81-28 safety requirements in plain English
- Make sure your lifts are ready for the PSTN switch-off
The standards and regulations you must comply with
Lift emergency communications are governed by multiple overlapping regulations. Housing providers must ensure compliance with:
- LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lift Equipment Regulations)
Requires biannual inspections and clear documentation of safety-critical systems. - Lift Regulations 1997
Sets the technical and safety requirements for lifts placed on the UK market. - BS EN 81-28
Requires lifts to have two-way emergency communications, battery backup and automated test calls every 72 hours. - Building Safety Act 2022
Introduces additional requirements for lifts used by firefighters and for evacuation.
The 72-hour test call requirement under BS EN 81-28 is particularly important. If an alarm is not placing those calls successfully, and logging them, it may not work when it is truly needed.
Where failures are already occurring
Industry data paints a concerning picture:
- Up to one in three lifts fail LOLER checks due to emergency communications issues
- Around 20% of lifts have a safety or compliance issue at any given time
- 84% of identified issues are linked to emergency battery failures, affecting alarms, lighting and passenger release systems
In many cases, these failures stem from incompatible digital lines, insufficient battery resilience or a lack of monitoring, all issues exacerbated by the PSTN switch-off.
What you should be doing now
To reduce risk and maintain compliance, housing providers should take action now.
Key steps include:
Audit your lift communications
Identify which lifts rely on analogue lines and what those lines support (alarms, monitoring or both).
Verify resilience
Ensure emergency communications have at least four hours of battery backup and are compatible with modern mobile networks. With 2G networks beginning to shut down from October 2025, fallback strategies are no longer viable.
Confirm monitoring and reporting
Check that automated test calls are being placed, logged and actively reviewed.
Plan for long-term change
Avoid short-term fixes that only bridge the PSTN switch-off. Choose solutions designed for future network changes.
A Managed Way Forward
Many housing providers are turning to fully managed services to navigate this transition. Managed lift communication solutions can:
- Handle analogue-to-digital migration
- Ensure power resilience and compliance
- Monitor test calls continuously
- Provide predictable, forecastable costs
MEMCO by AVIRE’s SENTINEL is a fully managed, power-resilient lift alarm solution with 24/7 performance monitoring. It takes the worry away by replacing PSTN with a robust digital connection.
With SENTINEL, you get:
- 4G-ready roaming SIM for strongest signal
- 8-hour backup power during outages
- Remote monitoring, fault alerts, and live reporting via AVIRE HUB
- Installed through your existing lift maintenance provider
- Simple monthly cost, no upfront fees
For facilities teams balancing safety, budgets and regulatory pressure, this approach significantly reduces both risk and operational burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PSTN switch-off and why should I act now?
The UK is retiring traditional landline (PSTN) networks. By 2027, analogue lines will be withdrawn completely, but many areas are already affected. If your lift phones still run on PSTN, they may stop working without warning. Acting now avoids risk to passenger safety and compliance.
Why do lift emergency phones need upgrading?
Analogue lines are being phased out and no longer meet safety standards. EN 81-28 requires emergency phones to keep working during power cuts and perform regular test calls. Digital systems meet these standards and ensure reliability.
What happens if we do nothing?
If no action is taken, lift emergency phones may silently fail, putting residents at risk and exposing housing providers to inspection failures, legal liability, and urgent, costly retrofits.
Who is responsible for batteries and SIM cards?
In unmanaged systems, housing providers often end up responsible. With SENTINEL, both are monitored automatically, and alerts are sent if there is a problem. This means you don’t have to worry about checking or replacing them yourself.
How does SENTINEL compare with basic GSM solutions?
Basic GSM units can lose signal, SIMs may expire, and faults often go unnoticed until tested. SENTINEL uses roaming SIMs to find the strongest network, includes extended battery backup, and provides 24/7 monitoring via AVIRE HUB.
Will SENTINEL help with EN 81-28 compliance?
Yes. SENTINEL meets EN 81-28 requirements with power resilience, automated test calls, and fault alerts, keeping your lifts compliant and safe.
Who installs and supports SENTINEL?
SENTINEL is installed by your current lift maintenance provider, with AVIRE providing the technology, monitoring, and ongoing support.
Is SENTINEL future-proof?
Yes. SENTINEL is 4G-ready, uses managed SIMs, includes battery backup, and is supported by AVIRE HUB, ensuring reliability now and beyond the PSTN switch-off.
