Openreach is to launch a new 'Prove Telecare' trial to help UK consumers with old analogue based phone and telecare systems to safely migrate to modern broadband connections with IP phone services.
The solution is expected to be made more widely available this year.
BT and Openreach recently delayed their PSTN switch-off from the end of December 2025 to 31 January 2027 to give ISPs, telecare providers and vulnerable users more time to prepare amid concerns that telecare users were being put at risk due to the older systems being incompatible with the IP based phone services and there being no battery back up in the event of a power outage.
Almost two million people in the UK currently use these vital telecare systems, many living in rural and remote areas where mobile coverage often isn't as reliable.
Openreach's Prove Telecare trial is one of the many initiatives aimed at tackling the issue. The small volume field engineering trial, which is due to start on 30 July and run until 22 October, is designed to support ISPs and customers to safely migrate their fixed line telecare devices to SOGEA and FTTP broadband lines with IP voice services.
If an Openreach engineer identifies a telecare device during a SOGEA or FTTP installation, they will not complete the installation and will use specific reason codes to notify CPs.
Openreach wrote in a statement, "The trial will test the systems, engineering training, on the day processes and procedures associated with moving end customers’ fixed voice telecare device(s) safely to new IP broadband and VoIP services.
"To participate in the trial, a CP must confirm that it has agreements in place with telecare providers in the trial areas of Cardiff, North Yorkshire and Lambeth & Southwark to ensure that the telecare provider can arrange for a telecare engineer to be present with an Openreach engineer at the migration appointment. This will ensure that the end customer is always left with a working telecare service."
The trial is currently very small and only covers a few limited parts of England and Wales, but it will be expanded in the future.
Openreach and BT are separately also piloting a new SOTAP for Analogue product, which is a phone line service that doesn't require broadband to work and can use modern networks to function like the older analogue service.