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Telecare providers across Europe are reviewing devices that depend on analogue telephone lines or older mobile networks.
The change is not happening on one schedule. Fixed-line networks, 2G services and 3G services are being updated or retired at different times across countries and operators. A device that still works in one market may require replacement, reconfiguration or further testing in another.
For care organizations, telecom operators and solution providers, the task is broader than choosing a new alarm terminal. They need to confirm how calls and alerts are transmitted, whether the intended network supports the device, how power failures are handled and who responds when an event is received.
PSTN migration and 2G/3G shutdowns are separate network changes with different schedules across Europe.
Older telecare alarms should be audited before the connection they use is migrated or retired.
Compatibility depends on the complete alarm path, including the device, local connection, voice and data services, platform and response process.
A fixed home phone, SOS tracker and 4G senior watch serve different users and should not be treated as interchangeable replacements.
LTE bands, VoLTE, SIM services, APN settings and alert handling should be tested with the intended local operator before rollout.
A limited pilot is more reliable than assuming that a specification sheet confirms deployment readiness.
Many established telecare systems were designed around an analogue telephone line. A home alarm unit could use that line to call a monitoring centre or transmit an alarm signal after the user pressed a pendant or wall-mounted button.
As fixed telephone services move to digital connections, the original communication path changes. The button itself may still function, but the connected alarm unit may not transmit calls or data in the same way. Some systems can continue operating after testing or adaptation; others may require replacement.
Cellular telecare equipment faces a separate issue. Devices that rely only on 2G or 3G may lose voice or data connectivity when the relevant operator retires that network. The timing varies by market, so a general statement that “Europe has switched off 2G or 3G” would be misleading.
The practical question for providers is therefore not whether all legacy equipment is obsolete. It is which devices depend on a changing network and whether the complete service still works after that change.
The terms are often grouped together, but they describe different technical changes.
PSTN migration concerns services delivered over traditional analogue fixed telephone networks. In the UK, for example, the digital phone switchover is expected to move most customers away from the PSTN by the end of January 2027. Other European countries and providers follow their own plans.
A legacy telecare alarm connected to a fixed line may need to be checked for:
Compatibility with the replacement digital voice service
Reliable alarm transmission over the new connection
Router or local equipment requirements
Operation during a mains power failure
Communication with the existing monitoring centre
These changes affect devices containing older cellular modules. A unit may appear normal locally but fail to place calls, send messages or upload alarm data if its supported network is no longer available.
Providers need to confirm the modem technology and services used by each device. A 4G data connection alone does not necessarily confirm that voice calls will work; local VoLTE support and operator requirements also matter.
Separating these two migration paths makes it easier to identify which equipment is affected and what type of testing is required.
A telecare service involves more than the alarm button. The complete path may include:
The user triggering an SOS button, pendant, watch or sensor
The device placing a call or sending alarm data
A fixed or cellular network carrying the event
A platform or monitoring centre receiving it
A family member, caregiver or operator responding
A change at any point can affect the outcome.
For example, a migrated home connection may not handle an older alarm protocol as expected. A cellular device may support the required LTE band but still need the correct SIM service, APN or VoLTE configuration. An alert may reach the platform but remain unhandled if responsibility has not been assigned.
For this reason, a network migration audit should cover the service journey rather than only the hardware model.
Create an inventory of the devices currently in use and identify how each one communicates.
Record:
Device model and hardware version
Fixed-line, 2G, 3G, 4G or IP connection
Voice, SMS and data functions used
SIM and mobile operator
Alarm protocol or platform connection
Installation location and responsible service team
This prevents different generations of equipment from being treated as one system.
For a cellular telecare device, confirm:
Target country and operator
LTE frequency bands
VoLTE availability
SIM voice, SMS and data services
APN settings
Indoor and outdoor coverage
Frequency compatibility is only the starting point. The intended SIM and operator should be used during testing.
Test what happens after the user presses SOS or an automatic alert is generated.
Check:
Which contacts or monitoring centre receive the event
Whether the device calls, sends data or performs both actions
What happens if the first contact does not answer
Who handles fall, geofence and low-battery alerts
Whether events are recorded and escalated
The process may differ between home care, residential care and an operator-managed service.
A digital home connection may depend on mains-powered network equipment. A wearable or portable device depends on its charging routine.
Providers should test backup power, low-battery warnings and actual operating time under the intended call and positioning conditions. Published battery figures alone cannot represent every deployment.
Some projects use an available supplier application or web platform. Others need the device to connect to an existing monitoring system.
Before selecting samples, confirm:
Required server protocol or API
Device configuration process
User and administrator roles
Alarm types and event records
Data hosting or local privacy requirements
Remote device management needs
These questions are easier to resolve before a pilot than after a larger order.
Network migration does not lead to one universal replacement terminal. The device should fit the user and the response model.
A fixed home safety phone may suit someone who mainly needs access to assistance at home and prefers a familiar, visible communication point. A compact SOS tracker may suit a user who needs simple controls and a prominent emergency button. A 4G senior watch may fit a more mobile user who is comfortable wearing and charging a wrist device and needs location services or fall alerts.
The appropriate format depends on the intended user, target network, alert workflow and platform requirements. KAER offers these device formats through the HP11 home safety phone, HTK01 4G SOS tracker and HW02 senior GPS watch.
For a closer look at form factors, see 4G GPS Watch vs SOS Pendant for Elderly Care. Buyers focusing on wrist devices can also review How to Choose a 4G Senior Watch for a Telecare Project.
A datasheet can help shortlist devices, but it cannot confirm the complete workflow in a particular country or care setting.
A limited pilot should use the intended:
Mobile operator and SIM
Device and firmware configuration
Application, server or monitoring platform
Indoor and outdoor environments
SOS contacts and response process
Charging and maintenance routine
The pilot should include normal operation as well as weak coverage, low battery, unanswered calls and loss of local power where relevant.
Our Senior SOS Device Deployment Testing Checklist provides a more detailed test framework. Providers planning a broader service can also read How Telecom Operators Can Build a Senior Telecare Service.
Providers can structure a migration project around six steps:
Audit installed devices and their network dependencies.
Separate fixed-line migration from 2G and 3G retirement risks.
Identify the users, environments and alert-response process.
Confirm local network, SIM and platform requirements.
Select device formats according to the deployment scenario.
Complete sample testing and a limited pilot before rollout.
This process helps providers identify actual compatibility gaps without assuming that every legacy device must be replaced in the same way.
Telecare devices can support communication, location awareness and alert workflows. They do not replace emergency services, medical assessment or appropriate human supervision.
If you are evaluating a 4G senior safety device for a European telecare project, share the target country, intended operator and response workflow with KAER before requesting samples.
Not necessarily. The impact depends on the alarm unit, the connection it uses and its compatibility with the replacement digital service. Existing devices should be audited and tested before a decision is made.
No. PSTN migration concerns traditional fixed telephone services. The 2G and 3G shutdowns affect cellular equipment using those mobile networks. Their schedules and technical effects are different.
Compatibility should not be assumed. LTE bands, VoLTE, SIM services, APN settings and operator-specific requirements should be confirmed for each target market.
Not in every case. A watch provides mobility and may support location or fall alerts, while a fixed home device provides a familiar communication point in the home. The choice depends on the user and service setting.
Share the target country, operator, SIM type, deployment setting and any platform or protocol requirements. This helps the supplier confirm a suitable sample configuration.
