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December 2024
The UK is converting its landline network from analogue to digital. The copper cables will probably be cut for good at the beginning of 2027. By then, the emergency call systems of lifts must also be converted.
By Lars Lindert and Bernd Lorenz
Analogue telephone lines will soon be a thing of the past in the UK. The traditional circuit-switched telephone network used for voice communication, which consists of a physical copper wire pair (Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN), will be shut down by 31 January 2027. This has been announced by Openreach, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Communications Group, which is responsible for the national broadband and telephone network. This marks the end of the era of the copper cable. Instead, the expansion of the fibre-optic network for high-speed broadband will be driven forward.
As a result of the technological change, lift and escalator operators need to convert the emergency call systems installed in their lifts as quickly as possible. The Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) estimates that there are currently around 300,000 lifts in the UK. Two-way communication is analogue in 250,000 of them.
‘Many lift alarm systems use analogue telephone lines and need a dial tone and dual-tone multi frequency (DTMF) signalling to work. A significant number of lift alarm systems also make use of the DC voltage available on the line,’ says Micky Grover White, Technical Manager at LEIA.
In a blog post in May 2024, Stannah, an English lift manufacturer, explained how the shutdown of the analogue network affects the emergency call system: According to this, an emergency call system whose hardware is connected to an a/b interface ensures two-way communication between the trapped persons and an emergency service. Many emergency call systems use DTMF signals for communication and identification with the emergency call centre.
Without the analogue interface, emergency call systems that communicate via a gateway using ‘Voice over Internet Protocol’ (VoIP) and fibre optics might no longer be able to reach the emergency services because, for example, there might be no dial tone. Furthermore, emergency call systems that draw power from the telephone line would not work.
Most telephone companies now offer gateways with an analogue a/b interface in their internet routers. However, this is not a universal solution – it is not suitable for emergency call systems in lifts, for example, as they do not have an emergency power supply to ensure fail-safe operation in the event of a power failure.
Micky Grover White expects that there will soon be emergency call systems for lifts that work with ‘Voice over Internet Protocol’ (VoIP) via fibre optic connections. However, these are not yet widespread. He points out a problem: ‘fibre cannot carry a voltage and hardware/ routers will also need a backup power supply to maintain the lift alarm in the case of power failure.’
If a fibre-optic connection is already available, lift operators and lift companies should sit down together to clarify a few questions: Is an a/b interface available that offers an analogue telephone connection? Is this compatible with the lift alarm (e.g. transmission of DTMF tones, line voltages, dial tone)?
Is the communication link equipped with an emergency power supply? What measures are in place for the maintenance of battery-backed systems and does the system report when the capacity of the emergency battery is no longer sufficient?
As an alternative to analogue lines, lift operators can switch their emergency call systems to mobile communications. This offers a number of advantages for example, the lift's mobile module can be operated without problems using an emergency battery, so that the emergency call will work even in the event of a power failure, as required by the BS EN 81-28 standard. In addition, the use of a roaming SIM card ensures that the emergency call system is always connected to the strongest available network, regardless of the provider.
In the medium term, a mobile communications solution with an emergency power battery seems to be the better choice. But it's not just the end of the copper cable. In a few years, mobile services such as 2G (GSM) and 3G (UMTS) will also be shut down (see also our online article "2G switch-off: experience and outlook").
According to Ofcom, the UK telecommunications regulator, mobile network operators have indicated to the government that 2G and 3G mobile networks will no longer be offered after 2033 at the latest and as these networks will be phased out in the next few years, LEIA recommends a 4G solution. To be prepared for the changes, Micky Grover White urges lift operators to talk to their communications and maintenance providers early.
More information: leia.co.uk
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