Equipment that used a traditional phone line needs checking when you move to digital lines.
| Equipment | What to do |
|---|---|
| Intruder and fire alarms | Ask your alarm company — most need an IP or 4G/dual-path communicator. Don’t rely on a phone-line connection that may stop working. |
| Card machines (PDQ) | Modern card machines use Wi-Fi, a network cable or 4G. Ask your card machine provider to switch you over. |
| Fax | Use email-to-fax or fax-to-email, or check with your fax supplier. Fax over digital lines is unreliable. |
| Door entry, lift and emergency phones | Ask the supplier about digital or 4G versions — lift lines especially need to keep working in a power cut. |
| Franking machines | Most now connect over the internet — ask your supplier. |
Important: make sure anyone who relies on a phone line for safety — such as an alarm or a lift line — has a working alternative before the old line is switched off.