Warning issued to anyone with a landline - 'the time to act is now'

If you are one of the two million people in the UK that rely on telecare alarms as a safety measure, you are being urged to get in contact with your landline provider ahead of a big shake-up that's coming this year. Backed by the government, and have banded together to warn landline customers about the national switch from copper-based landlines to new digital lines that rely on .

This change is happening because the UK's increasingly unreliable and hard-to-fix copper landline and internet connections are being phased out in favour of fully digital voice and broadband services. But those vulnerable telecoms customers who rely on telecare alarms are being advised to seek advice on how to keep these vital services working during the switchover period.

"Moving customers onto newer digital services is a necessary step as the reliability of the 40-year-old analogue landline technology is increasingly fragile - therefore the time to act is now," said Claire Gillies, BT Group's Consumer CEO.

Telecare alarms are usually buttons worn on a pendant or kept in a place in the home that, when pressed in an emergency, sends a call for help to emergency services or loved ones. These devices traditionally work by being hardwired into the copper landline network, and now BT and Virgin Media are taking steps to ensure people aren't left without the service.

"The switch from analogue to digital landlines is being rolled out across the country as copper networks become increasingly unreliable and spare parts are no longer available," BT and Virgin Media said in a joint press release with the UK Government.

"Putting safety at the centre of the switchover, landline companies will send an engineer to carry out the switchover and personally test the telecare alarm, ensuring it continues to work once a household has moved onto the digital network. Landline providers will also offer vulnerable customers with a free battery back-up device so their landline can continue working in an outage."

Although these major telcos are offering help, it's important telecare alarm customers proactively contact their landline providers to ensure help is sent out.

According to the government, more than two-thirds of the UK's landlines have already been migrated to digital connections, but that still leaves many thousands waiting for the switch.

"We cannot afford to leave anyone behind during the vital transition to digital landlines," said Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant.

"I have personally set a strict checklist of safeguards for industry to comply with before they migrate any telecare user.

"This industry-led campaign marks a further step towards keeping people safe as we boost the resilience of our networks for the digital age.

"I urge anyone with a telecare alarm - or anyone close to a user of a telecare alarm - to pick up the phone and contact their provider to access the help that's available."

The government-backed awareness campaign for telecare customers is set to hit TV, radio, newspapers and social media starting today, with information also displayed in GP surgeries, hospitals, pharmacies and post offices.

"This major new campaign marks a significant moment where 2 industry leaders have come together to raise awareness of the digital landline switchover," said Rob Orr, Chief Operations Officer at Virgin Media O2.

"With traditional analogue landlines becoming less and less reliable, the programme is essential step to safeguard services for the future. Inaction would mean putting services at risk.

"Our message is clear: if you or someone you know use a telecare alarm, pick up the phone and talk to your provider. Let us know, and we'll support you every step of the way."