The insurance industry has issued alerts over the past few months to ensure that clients are aware of the closure of BT Redcare, the UK’s largest provider of alarm signalling, in August 2025. Additionally, they have reiterated the requirements insurers will expect to be met for customers to continue to be covered by their contents or commercial insurance policies.
Since we reported on the original announcement in February BT Redcare has launched a collaboration with Swedish IoT technology supplier, AddSecure, which will enter the UK market for the first time. This will mean that when BT Recare operations cease, AddSecure will step in as a partner to take on the responsibility of managing customer relationships with alarm receiving centres (ARCs) currently using BT Redcare’s next generation portfolio of alarm signalling devices.
Meanwhile it was estimated in February by the British Security Industry Association that around 90,000 of BT Redcare’s 120,000 live systems are legacy devices that are reliant on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). These will need to be switched over to the fibre-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) network that allows your telephone service to be delivered across the internet.
BT was due to switch off the PSTN at the end of 2025 but the deadline was extended to 31st January 2027. AddSecure and BT Redcare said it would prioritise the transition from legacy alarm platforms to digital ones.
Existing BT Redcare customers can also consider looking at alternative IoT alarm signalling providers such as CSL. Both of the main intruder alarm partners of Ecl-ips, Orisec and HKC Security, manufacture control panels that integrate with CSL’s dual-path signalling solutions.
Updates from insurance providers, Aviva and Axa, outlined that if organisations that require remote monitoring for their site want to continue to be properly insured, they will need a replacement system that is installed by a company accredited by the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) or the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB). They will also need to have a maintenance contract with companies certified by the NSI or SSAIB.
Aviva stated that a product comparable to Redcare Classic or GSM would be a dual path Alarm Transmissions meeting category DP3. AXA and Aviva said that any dual path ATS certified as meeting the latest adopted version of alarm standard, BS EN 50136, and performing at DP3, would be accepted by Aviva as a like-for-like replacement. This would include a product such as CSL Dualcom Gradeshift Pro DP3.
Ecl-ips has been offering intruder alarm systems, including those that require remote monitoring and an ATS so that signals can be sent to our ARC, since 2020 when it acquired Bristol-based intruder alarm specialist, Security Group. Ecl-ips is an NSI-Gold accredited company for intruder alarm, access control and CCTV systems, while Security Group, is certified by the SSAIB. We have worked with all our customers that had legacy systems across our group to ensure they upgrade to digital systems.
If you need advice to ensure that you continue to have an intruder alarm system that will meet the needs of your insurance company, and provides reliable digital connectivity with an ARC, then please contact us.