BT Redcare, which provides fire and signalling alarm signalling, is to close all its operations on 1 August 2025. Currently the company provides monitoring of BT telephone lines linking commercial alarm systems to an alarm receiving centre (ARC).
As the company is the UK’s largest provider of alarm signalling it caused concerns within the security industry due to the level of demand there will be for alarm upgrades. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) estimated that approximately 120,000 live systems need to be upgraded before the BT Redcare operations cease next year.
In its email to alarm receiving centres and security system installers BT said the closure of its Redcare business “has been driven by our new strategy, which is focused on doing fewer things, but better. This includes reducing product variants, enabling us to focus and invest in the core products and services that will deliver for our customers.”
Switch off of PSTN lines already impacting industry
Changes were already underway within the security industry because the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is due to be switched off by BT by the end of 2025. At that point everyone will need to have switched to the Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) that allows your telephone service to be delivered across the internet.
This impacted intruder alarm signalling that was still taking place over traditional phone lines. The BSIA estimated that out of the total number of BT Redcare systems, 90,000 were legacy products, reliant on PSTN, that would have needed to be upgraded anyway.
Ecl-ips Managing Director Aaron Kernaghan said in 2022 “The biggest challenge in the last 20 years for the security industry has been the change from analogue to digital, this isn’t just with camera connectivity but more recently with the BT upgrade from analogue to digital and removal of PSTN exchanges that is currently being rolled out.”
IoT provider CSL anticipates increased demand due to BT Redcare closure
Internet of Things (IoT) alarm signalling provider, CSL, said, “We are currently reviewing our stock management processes alongside our supplier partners to ensure we can adjust our plans to deal with an increase in demand. We would encourage Installers to review their engineer resources and processes around performing any required upgrades as part of a structured programme alongside maintenance visits.”
CSL added “We are committed to extending our current operation to ensure the alarm signalling ecosystem continues to receive the highest levels of service and support, and that end-users are not negatively impacted by these changes.”
As an IP-driven business, Ecl-ips has always installed new intruder alarm systems that connect to its ARC across the internet. Our intruder alarm partners, Orisec and HKC Security, both manufacture panels that fully integrate with CSL’s range of alarm signalling products. Additionally, Orisec is a CSL Connected partner, which allows us to offer full communication with the ARC and access to Orisec’s Control Plus app.
How we can help upgrade your intruder alarm system
However, our Bristol subsidiary, Security Group, that has a large range of domestic and commercial intruder alarm customers, had some using BT Redcare intruder alarm signalling and were still reliant on PSTN lines. We had already contacted these Security Group clients and most of these have upgraded to our advanced digital solutions. We will work with any remaining customers to ensure we, and they, are ready for the closure of BT Redcare.
We design bespoke intruder alarm systems that, if you need added peace of mind, can connect to our fully compliant ARC. When the ARC receives a signal that your intruder alarm has been triggered the monitoring team will carefully filter activations to sort which alerts are false alarms and which alarms require a response.
The remote monitoring centre team can provide a response to:
- notify nominated keyholders
- notify a linked keyholding service and/or
- notify the Police in the event of a confirmed alarm signal although you may choose not to have this option.
If you need an intruder alarm upgrade or are affected by the closure of BT Redcare and would like to know more about the alternative alarm signalling options we can offer, please get in touch to find out more.