BT Redcare Has Closed | What To Use Instead

Table of Contents

BT Redcare Has Closed: What Should Former Redcare Customers Use Now?

BT Redcare was once held as a pinnacle of modern security infrastructure in the UK. Established over three decades ago, this alarm monitoring system was the foundation upon which alarm systems in the UK operated.

It enabled remote monitoring services to property owners and allowed them to have their assets watched by an independent security team.

The service worked by relaying the alarm signal through the telephone line to a monitoring station, which would then take the appropriate action on your behalf.

However, with technology evolving every few decades, BT Redcare has now become a legacy service that is no longer supported.

It has been replaced by better communications and monitoring platforms that offer better stability, reliability, and speed.

If you are a former BT Redcare customer, there are several ways you can continue providing security to your property.

Read below to learn more about BR Redcare replacements, our recommended migration strategy, and a comparison of monitoring services:

REPLACING BT REDCARE

Alarm systems communicate using a communication infrastructure. You can think of it as a road that connects your alarm to the alarm receiving centre (ARC).

In the case of BT Redcare, the service was the road that connected your alarm to the alarm receiving centre.

BT Redcare GSM was one of the best grade 4 alarm signalling services as it used two secure signalling paths to communicate with the Alarm Receiving Centre.

Dual communication pathways ensured that signals sent from the security systems are never compromised, since it provides double protection against risks of failed alarm signals. At its peak, the system boasted a 99.997% reliable dedicated network developed specifically for alarm signalling.

So, why has it closed?

The reason comes down to business strategy adjustments, technological improvements, and costs.

The BT Redcare system was based on the Public Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN protocol. This protocol relied on the landline to send signals to an Alarm Receiving Centre. The UK announced that it was going to phase out the PSTN protocol by early 2027 due to complicated repair costs and aging components.

Separately, BT itself was reshuffling its business strategies and decided to exit the alarm signalling market entirely to focus its investments on core products.

Which decision came first is debatable, but one thing is for sure: BT was either going to have to reinvest a lot of money to accommodate the PSTN retirement, or it was going to have to continue spending a lot of money on maintaining its Redcare service and its infrastructure.

The UK is retiring the PSTN service in favour of an all-IP-based network. Instead of using 3G or telephone lines, the country will focus on migrating all services to 4G/5G services or broadband going forward.

2G is still sticking around, albeit for a very short while, and is expected to close down around 2029.

These changes have left property owners confused, especially the ones who use third-party monitoring services.

However, the good news is that it is not all doom and gloom!

A lot of new players have entered the market, and a lot of existing ones have also decided to evolve with the passage of time.

So, you have a lot of options to choose from!

Still unsure if your signalling was migrated? Contact us here or call us on 0800 612 9799 for a free assessment.

BT REDCARE HAS CLOSED – WHAT SHOULD FORMER CUSTOMERS USE NOW?

BT Redcare officially closed its services on 15 December 2025, and some users have already migrated or are in the process of migrating.

If you are someone who is unsure whether they migrated correctly or still have an affected system, then this guide is for you.

Let’s begin by answering a few important questions:

Does the Redcare Closure Mean My Alarm No Longer Works?

As mentioned above, BT Redcare was a communications platform that enabled your alarm to connect to an Alarm Monitoring Centre.

This is an important distinction! What has changed is the protocol – not your alarm. In other words, your alarm will continue functioning locally; it just won’t be able to relay the alarm signal to a monitoring service.

The siren may still operate as intended, and everything will work as before, so if you do not have a monitoring service set up, then the change is not likely to affect your alarm system.

However, if you did have a monitoring service at the backend, then you will need to find a BT Redcare replacement.

What Can Replace BT Redcare?

Several services offer an equal or even better replacement. Since the UK is going for an all-IP future, you will need to find a service that offers futureproofing, communications security, and high uptime.

Services like CSL Dualcom GradeShift Pro or Texecom Monitoring are great examples because these services offer stability and reliability.

Please note that while choosing a replacement, we recommend that you go with an equivalent or better service rather than simply going for the cheapest.

Every alarm monitoring service is a bit different in how they receive and handle security requests. We recommend that you start by consulting with an accredited security company like Calder Security to learn more about your particular service and your options.

Keep in mind that the cheapest solution will often be the one that has a lot of friction or stability issues. Since the UK is now going for an all-IP ecosystem, the signal will need to be relayed via 4G or broadband.

These services need to have a very high uptime (closer to 99.99%), or there is a chance that the signal may fail to relay to the alarm receiving centre.

Most comprehensive monitoring companies offer dual connection support. This way, if one relay fails, there is a fallback that can send the signal.

Do I Need a New Alarm Panel?

No, not necessarily!

Depending on your existing panel, communicator, and installation, the migration process may involve only replacing the signalling device rather than the entire alarm system.

Alarm hardware products made after the 2010s are less likely to be replaced since they may already support 4G and dual connectivity features. However, older alarm systems, especially legacy hardware, will likely need to be replaced.

It’s not just that the old systems don’t support newer protocols; it is also because over time, sensor calibration can become erratic and even fail at times. If your system is older than 20-25 years, then it might be a good time to go for a new system entirely.

Will My Insurance Cover Me?

This is another reason why you should go for a new system if the hardware is very old.

Insurance companies want customers to fulfil all the basic requirements that make them eligible for a claim. If your system is not compliant with the latest requirements, then your insurance policy may be void.

If your system is relatively new, supports newer protocols, and was installed and maintained by NSI/SSAIB-regulated installers like Calder Security, then you will likely not have to worry about insurance problems.

How Do I Check For Compatibility?

As a former BT Redcare customer, you will need to check whether your system supports newer protocols.

The easiest way to do this is to simply contact a professional security company like Calder Security to assess your system and determine its compatibility.

Other ways to do it are to check the specifications of the alarm by going to the manufacturer’s website or by referring to the manual of the product.

You should look under the connectivity section on the specifications page and look for terms such as IP-ready or IPv4 and IPv6. The manufacturer may also highlight that the product supports 2G/3G or 4G/5G networks.

If your alarm only supports PSTN or landline/telephone or 2G/3G, then the system will be considered incompatible.

My Alarm is Incompatible; What Do I Do?

If your system is incompatible, then there are a few options.

The first and most common is to replace only the communication module on the alarm system.

Instead of replacing the entire alarm altogether, professional security installers swap out the incompatible component with a modern and compliant device.

This device can help your alarm system become compatible going forward and can help you save money.

If your alarm system does not support SIM cards, 4G/5G networking, or broadband, then you will have to replace the entire system. Keep in mind that this is the most unlikely case, especially if you have an alarm system that was manufactured after the 2010s.

If you had the system installed by a professional installer, then chances are that they had already considered future-proofing your alarm system and sourced hardware that was future-compatible.

This is, in fact, one of the key differences between people who DIY-ed the installation process vs people who got it done professionally.

Professionals keep an eye out for industry trends and future changes that may impact their services. So, when installing new hardware, they look for solutions that benefit the owner and allow them to continue providing maintenance services without problems.

How Does Migration Work?

The migration process begins with an accredited installer like Calder Security conducting an alarm assessment.

The assessment highlights known vulnerabilities in the system and connection problems. The installer will identify signalling requirements for your alarm system and establish the right protocols for connecting to the alarm monitoring service.

If the alarm system is compatible, the service will simply be configured to send out the signal to the alarm receiving centre according to their specifications.

If the system is incompatible, the installer will provide solutions for replacing components to make the alarm system compatible.

Once the components have been installed and configured, the initial connection to the ARC will be made and calibrated.

After testing the signal and calibrating the sensors, the migration process will be completed, and you will be handed a document that confirms this.

STILL USING AN OLD REDCARE SYSTEM?

Do not assume that your alarm is being monitored, even if it appears to work.

As mentioned earlier, the alarm will continue to work LOCALLY, but it will not be able to send out a signal.

It can not send the signal since there is no “in-between” connection.

If you are a former Redcare customer and have not received confirmation that your Redcare service was migrated, then contact your alarm receiving centre to confirm which signalling system is currently installed and being used for your alarm.

The representatives at the alarm receiving centre will be able to confirm whether they are successfully receiving the signal from your alarm system.

So, even if you have migrated, it would be a good idea to test the migration and verify it before leaving your property unattended.

The best way to do this is to just let the professionals take over.

Calder Security is more than equipped to help you with all your migration and alarm needs. By booking an inspection or visit, our technicians can assess your alarm system and help you verify your alarm service.

Our technicians can also conduct a thorough assessment and highlight vulnerabilities or connection problems in your alarm system.

If your alarm is not connected to a monitoring service, then you can even go for Calder’s monitoring services.

This is the best way to get all three core pillars of modern alarm monitoring:

Installation/Migration/Verification

Maintenance

Monitoring

All of this under one roof by one company so you don’t have to go around looking for different providers for one alarm system.

At Calder Security, we use two main methods of monitoring depending on the level of security you require:

Digital monitoring or IP-based networking,

DualCom GPRS operation

The type of monitoring solution you choose is determined by the level of security you require. Digital monitoring works fine for most but would fail in the case of a faulty phone line or the phone line being cut.

DualCom offers a dual signalling system so that the ARC gets notified even if the signal strength is faulty or tampered with. Keep in mind that IP-based networking signals are dependent on the signal strength and connectivity uptime.

If the alarm system does not have a solid connection at the backend, it might relay the alarm signal, but the signal will not be delivered to the alarm receiving centre.

This is why Calder Security offers fallback options and dual connectivity so that the alarm signal is sent to the ARC even during outages in one network. This increases reliability and speed for your alarm system.

WHY CHOOSE CALDER SECURITY FOR YOUR ALARM MONITORING NEEDS?

We are Yorkshire’s leading independent security company, and you can rely on us for all your alarm monitoring and migration needs.

Our alarm monitoring services work seamlessly with IP signalling services and offer you round-the-clock, uninterrupted monitoring of your property.

All our alarms are installed according to the British and European standards for alarm installation and monitoring. We are SSAIB-approved installers and have highly experienced security specialists who can advise on the best monitoring solution for you.

Our Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) works 24/7 to ensure you receive the maximum level of security and peace of mind, even when you are away from your property.

We offer fast repair services if our monitoring detects any faults in the system, guaranteeing continuous safety and security.

We also offer installation, maintenance, monitoring, as well as repair services for all kinds of security systems for both your home and business. Regardless of how big or small your property is, we bet that we have the ideal security system for you!

Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 9799 to talk to our experts for more information on BT Redcare closure and what former Redcare customers should use now.

Photo by Sebastian Scholz (Nuki) on Unsplash