TakingCare Personal Alarms has launched a new digital alarm to help elderly people in the wake of the digital phone line switchover.
The digital alarm is the first in the UK with two multi-network SIM cards to ensure instant connectivity in case of a mobile network outage.
The device uses a roaming algorithm to automatically connect to the strongest available mobile network, switching to a different Core Network provider when an outage occurs.
Openreach’s digital phoneline switchover involves the replacement of analogue telephone lines with digital ones, meaning that personal alarms which rely on the telephone landline may no longer be compatible with the new digital system, potentially leaving vulnerable and older people unable to call for help.
Andrew Ridpath, head of customer experience at TakingCare Personal Alarms, said: “Earlier this year, one of the UK’s biggest Core Network Providers went offline in an unplanned outage. This meant that anyone using a digital personal alarm relying on mobile network connectivity from this single network provider was unable to call for help through their alarm device.
“With more and more analogue landlines already being replaced, digital personal alarms are an instrumental way of keeping older people safe.
“Most digital alarms rely on a single Core Network Provider, which is why we’ve gone one step further to create a resilient personal alarm product that uses two multi-network SIMs, making it purpose-built to remain operational even in case of a network provider outage.”
The device is worn around the neck as a pendant or on the wrist and it has a button which can be pushed in case of emergency, connecting the user to TakingCare Personal Alarm’s 24-hour emergency resolution team.
