UFO ending, problem with telecare alarm

[mikel]

Hi

I received a letter informing me that my UFO service was ending in May.

When I contacted your call centre to answer about my options they asked several questions then I was put on hold. On returning the lady explained that she did not think that my Tunstall Lifeline product, (supplied by Be Independent - part of City of York Council) would work with the new system and asked me to contact my care provider to check if any alternative equipment was available.

This is causing me concern, not only for myself but for others who may be more vulnerable and in the same situation.

Can anyone confirm if the above is correct and, if it is, what is the best solution?

Mike

[Gondola]

Hi Mike

I suggested getting in touch with your normal contact for the products you have been supplied with because Tunstall have retired analogue only units, Lifeline Vi and Vi+ to offer full compatibility with full fibre broadband and the scheduled closure of the conventional telephone system by 2025.

You may already have a Tunstall Smart Hub that has a connection via full fibre broadband or 4G mobile networks as a fall back.

[mikel]

Hi

Thank you for your comments.

I think that the version you have looked at was only recently launched so I suspect I have an older version.

Mike 

[Gondola]

Hi Mike

Good questions and worth following up with York City Council and your normal contact for the products you've been supplied with.

My look at Tunstall Lifeline Digital indicates that the service is provided both via 4G mobile phone networks or via a full fibre broadband connection in the same way that Digital Voice Service is delivered over full fibre broadband / UFO.

So, if you already have that product / service then I don't think you need to be concerned. But talk direct to your Tunstall Lifeline contact to double check.

The Tunstall Lifeline Digital has its own battery back up unit just as the UFO wall cabinet connection does. So, if there is a power outage there is still battery power for the Tunstall Lifeline Digital equipment and the UFO equipment (although not your broadband router) and the fall back option would be for Tunstall Lifeline Digital to use a 4G mobile network.

If your UFO service equipment does get replaced by CityFibre that now own the full fibre network then what you may need is to have the CityFibre replacement in the home ONT, to which your router is connected, and the router itself, powered by battery back up units. But this is belt and braces when Tunstall Lifeline Digital, utilising its own battery back up during a power outage, connects to a 4G mobile network.