Phone companies are shutting down the copper lines that traditional landlines (POTS) run on. If your alarm system sends signals to a monitoring center over a landline, it could stop communicating when that line is retired or switched to a digital service. The fix is to move your system to a cellular or dual-path communicator before your line goes dark.
For decades, the phone line in your wall was the most dependable way for an alarm panel to call for help. When a door opened, a smoke detector tripped, or a panic button was pressed, the panel dialed out over copper wire and reported the event to a monitoring center in seconds.
That network is now being retired. Here's what this means for your security and fire alarm system, how to tell whether you're affected, and what to do next.
What is POTS, and Why Are Phone Companies Shutting it Down?
POTS stands for "Plain Old Telephone Service." It's the traditional analog landline delivered over copper wire from your phone company's local switching center. It has been around for more than a century.
Copper is costly to maintain, and phone companies now prefer fiber and wireless. In March 2026, the FCC made it faster and easier to retire copper and carriers generally only have to give 90 days' notice before a line is shut off.
AT&T, Verizon, and Frontier are already retiring copper, including in parts of New York and Pennsylvania. Some filings have been paused for review, but the direction isn't changing: landlines are going away, and the timing in your neighborhood can change with little warning.
How the Copper Shutdown Affects Your Security System
Many older alarm panels use a built-in dialer that sends coded tones over the phone line to the monitoring center. That design depends on a true analog line. When copper goes away, your phone company typically moves you to fiber, a digital (VoIP) phone service, or a wireless home phone. None of these is guaranteed to carry alarm signals the way copper did.
Here's what can go wrong:
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Signals get garbled or lost. Digital phone service compresses sound for voice calls. Alarm tones are data, not voice, so they can arrive incomplete or not at all.
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Line seizure stops working. An alarm panel is wired to take over the phone line during an emergency, even if someone is on a call. A digital phone installer can easily bypass that wiring without realizing it.
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Power outages cut the connection. A copper line carries its own power from the phone company. Fiber and VoIP equipment run on your home's power and need battery backup. When the power goes out, your alarm panel may stay on while its connection to the monitoring center goes dark.
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Failures can go unnoticed. If your panel can't reach the monitoring center, you may not find out until a real alarm doesn't get through, or until a routine test fails.
Businesses face higher stakes. Fire alarm panels, elevator emergency phones, call boxes, and gate entry systems often run on landlines, too. Fire alarm communication must meet code (NFPA 72) and be approved by your local fire marshal, and a generic phone adapter usually won't qualify. Losing that line can mean a failed inspection or a system that can't report a fire.
How to Tell if Your Alarm System Uses a Landline
Not sure how your system communicates? Check for these signs:
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There's a phone cord running to your alarm panel or to a gray RJ31X jack near it, usually in a basement, utility room, or closet.
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Your monitoring agreement mentions "landline" or a phone-line communication option.
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You've received a letter from your phone company about copper retirement, a "network upgrade," or a required move to fiber or digital voice.
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Your keypad shows a communication or phone line trouble message or beeps with a "failure to communicate" warning.
If any of these apply, call Doyle at 1-866-GO-DOYLE (463-6953). We can check how your system reports to our monitoring center and whether it's at risk.
Your Upgrade Options: Cellular, Internet, and Dual-Path Communicators
In most cases, you don't need a whole new system. A new communicator can be added to most existing alarm panels, allowing them to report without a phone line.
|
Options |
How it works |
Best for |
Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cellular communicator (LTE) |
Sends alarm signals over a dedicated cellular radio, not your phone or internet |
Most homes and small businesses |
Works during internet and phone outages; needs adequate cell signal at the panel |
|
Internet (IP) communicator |
Sends signals over your internet connection |
Sites with reliable broadband |
Goes down if your internet or router loses power |
|
Dual-path (cellular + IP) |
Uses two independent paths, so if one fails, the other takes over |
Businesses, fire alarm systems, high-value properties |
The most resilient option and often preferred for fire code compliance |
|
Fire alarm communicator |
A listed cellular or dual-path unit built for fire alarm control panels |
Commercial fire alarm systems |
Required for code-compliant fire alarm monitoring |
Why not just use a digital phone service? Because "works some of the time" isn't good enough for a system that protects your family or business.
A communication upgrade opens the door to features many landline systems can't offer, such as arming and disarming from your phone with real-time alerts, and faster signal delivery.
Don't Wait for the Notice: What to Do Next
The safest time to upgrade is before your phone company sets a date. A planned switch takes one visit. A rushed switch after your line is turned off can leave you unprotected for days.
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Don't let a phone or internet installer rewire your alarm. Call your security provider first so your system is tested before and after any change.
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Schedule a communicator upgrade. For businesses, start with fire alarm and other life-safety lines.
Ready to get off the landline? Request a free consultation or call us at 1-866-GO-DOYLE (463-6953) to schedule your upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my alarm system stop working when my landline is retired?
If your alarm reports to its monitoring center over a copper landline, it can lose that connection when the line is retired. The sensors and siren will still work locally, but the monitoring center will not receive alarms. Adding a cellular or internet communicator keeps your system connected.
Does an alarm system work with VoIP or fiber phone service?
Sometimes, but not reliably. Digital phone service is designed for voice, and alarm signals can be distorted or dropped. VoIP and fiber equipment also lose power during outages unless they have battery backup. A cellular or dual-path communicator is the more dependable choice.
When will my landline be shut off?
It depends on your carrier and your local wire center. Carriers generally must give at least 90 days' notice before retiring copper still in use. Retirements are happening in phases now, so check any letter from your phone company and plan ahead.
Can I drop my landline once my alarm is on cellular?
Yes, as long as nothing else depends on it, such as an elevator phone, fax line, or medical alert device. Once your alarm is on cellular, it no longer needs the phone line to reach the monitoring center.
Unsure if your system needs updating or uses a landline? Click here and we can check your system.
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