Telecare and social alarms in Ireland: landlines, 3G and SIM connectivity
Telecare and social alarms in Ireland can be affected by two changes: copper phone lines are due to be withdrawn exchange area by exchange area, and Eir is retiring its 3G network, following Vodafone. Here is what to check on each unit before it matters.
Two changes, two timetables
None of the pages we checked gives a single national end date for analogue phone lines. Telecare and social alarms can still be affected by two separate changes, on different timetables, so check both.
Landlines: copper to be withdrawn exchange by exchange
- ComReg published Decision D09/23 on 1 November 2023. It is the framework for Eircom's move from copper to modern infrastructure, and for switching copper off [4][5].
- Copper goes one legacy exchange area at a time. In general the modern network must reach all in-scope premises in the area first. Eircom must publish at least 12 months' advance notice of the forecast switch-off date for users who are not exempt. That notice is published for other phone providers (access seekers) and ComReg [5].
- “Exempt users” include vulnerable end-users who rely on legacy services, as determined by the retail provider. They can be given more time to find a replacement: Eircom must publish a further notice at least six months before it switches off their services. The decision says replacement services could be delivered using alternative technology such as mobile [5].
- Under the framework, Eircom may not contact end-users who are not its own retail customers directly. Required communications are made by each customer's own retail provider [5]. Your own phone provider is the one to ask.
- Open eir advises that households with medical or home alarms on copper should move them to fibre or mobile alternatives, and says the alarm provider can help [6].
Neither ComReg's page nor open eir's gives a national switch-off date [4][6]. Ask your phone provider which exchange area each site is in and what notice has been given.
3G mobile: Vodafone has retired it, Eir is retiring it
- Vodafone switched off its 3G network in October 2024 [1].
- Eir is retiring 3G from 1 October 2026, in phases, starting in Donegal [1][3]. ComReg names GoMo and Lyca Mobile as brands that use Eir's network, so their customers are affected too [2].
- ComReg lists monitored care alarm devices (fall detectors, communicators and similar) among equipment that may be affected when 3G goes, next to security and fire alarms, GPS trackers and automated gates. It gives the list as guidance only and advises checking with the device supplier. It says a 4G or 5G-enabled device is not likely to be affected [1].
ComReg says each mobile provider begins its 3G retirement in its own time and notifies its customers in advance [1], so check your operator's notices. None of the pages we checked gives a date for retiring 2G in Ireland. Our 3G switch-off guide shows how to find out which radio a device has.
What this means for an alarm unit
An alarm unit has to reach the monitoring centre by some route. The route decides which change matters.
| How the unit connects | What changes | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Copper line only | Works until the line is withdrawn in your exchange area. Timing depends on the area and your provider [5]. | Ask your phone provider for the exchange area and notice. Ask the alarm supplier about fibre or mobile options [6]. |
| Analogue unit moved to a broadband voice line | The UK Government's telecare plan says a digital line may corrupt an analogue alarm's signalling and relies on mains power, and that interim fixes need testing on each installation [11]. That plan applies to England and is not Irish regulation, but it shows what to test. | Test the specific unit on the specific line, and ask about any router's battery back-up. |
| Mobile unit, 3G only | Loses its 3G connection when 3G is retired in your area [1]. | Usually needs a 4G version or replacement module. Ask the alarm supplier or monitoring company. A new SIM cannot add a radio the unit lacks. |
| Mobile unit, 2G only or 2G and 3G | A 2G-only unit does not use 3G. ComReg says devices that connect only to 3G and 2G keep making and receiving calls over 2G, but data services are affected [1]. | Check the manual for what the unit does on 2G, and watch for operator notices about 2G. |
| Mobile unit, 4G | Not likely to be affected by the 3G retirement [1]. | Check that the SIM and the device support the same networks and bands. |
Where a multi-network SIM fits for a mobile-connected unit
Some alarm units use mobile as the main route, others only as a fallback when the line fails. Either way, the alarm then depends on the signal at one address. Operators do not all cover a building equally well, and a SIM locked to one network has nothing to fall back on if that operator has a weak spot, an outage or a retirement date.
Vodafone has already retired 3G and Eir is retiring it now, as above. A unit on a single-network SIM follows its one operator's timetable. SimFalcon says a multi-network IoT SIM gives the device more connection options than a single-network SIM [8], and that it can reduce dependence on any one operator [9]. That only helps if the unit's radio can use a network that is still live.
SimFalcon's coverage page says multi-network does not create signal where none exists, that the strongest network is not always chosen, and that it is not a coverage guarantee [9]. Test at the final location with the antenna fitted. For weak signal, see weak or no network and our coverage page.
On power, the UK plan notes that many digital telecare alarms have an in-built roaming SIM and so reach a mobile mast when mains power fails, though only some masts have any power resilience [11].
What SimFalcon states
SimFalcon describes multi-network IoT SIM connectivity in Ireland for telecare units, monitored alarms, GSM diallers, emergency call devices, social alarms and alarm panels. It lists voice, SMS and data options depending on device requirements, and says local number options can be discussed for suitable deployments [8]. It says it can help clarify APN details, number format, device type, expected usage and installer requirements [8]. Its pricing page says standard plans are billed annually (qualifying business-volume accounts may have monthly billing), which avoids pay-as-you-go credit expiry and forgotten top-ups [10].
SimFalcon also says final suitability depends on the device, installation, antenna position, local coverage, configuration and testing [8]. A SIM does not add a radio the unit lacks, make an alarm comply with any standard, or decide whether the monitoring centre accepts the signal. See the telecare alarm SIM page, pricing or contact SimFalcon.
Seniors Alert Scheme units
The Seniors Alert Scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and administered by Pobal. Applicants apply through a local registered organisation [7]. Pobal's page does not say how the alarms connect, so ask the registered organisation or the equipment supplier which units use a landline and which use mobile, and who looks after each line or SIM.
Checklist for housing bodies, alarm providers and installers
- Keep a register of alarm units: address or scheme, model, and the route to the monitoring centre (copper line, broadband or mobile).
- For copper-line units, ask the phone provider which exchange area each site is in and what notice has been given [5], and ask the alarm supplier about fibre or mobile replacements [6].
- Tell the phone provider which customers depend on the line for a medical or care alarm. The framework leaves it to the retail provider to determine which vulnerable end-users count as exempt [5].
- For mobile units, the data sheet shows which radios each model has. Put 3G-only units first on the replacement list. Eir's retirement is phased, starting in Donegal, so check the timing for each site's county [1][3].
- Ask your SIM supplier which networks and radio types the SIM can use today.
- After any change, run a live test: trigger the alarm, confirm it reaches the monitoring centre, and log the date and result.
- Check power. Know what the unit runs on in a mains failure, including any router or adaptor on the line.
- Keep a record of what is done and what is pending, and tell tenants or customers in writing.
If you also run schemes in the UK, the timetable is different; see the UK version of this guide. Dates and plans can change, so confirm them with your own provider.
Sources
- [1] 3G retirement, ComReg (Commission for Communications Regulation). Checked 3 October 2026.
- [2] Eir 3G switch-off from October (20 August 2026), ComReg. Checked 3 October 2026.
- [3] Eir to retire 3G services (24 September 2026), RTÉ News. Checked 3 October 2026.
- [4] Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure, ComReg. Checked 3 October 2026.
- [5] Migration framework, ComReg 23/102 (Decision D09/23), ComReg. Checked 3 October 2026.
- [6] Fibre Switch Over, open eir. Checked 3 October 2026.
- [7] Seniors Alert Scheme (SAS), Pobal. Checked 3 October 2026.
- [8] Telecare Alarm SIM Ireland, SimFalcon. Checked 3 October 2026.
- [9] Coverage, SimFalcon. Checked 3 October 2026.
- [10] Pricing, SimFalcon. Checked 3 October 2026.
- [11] Telecare National Action Plan (11 February 2025), Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK). Checked 3 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a date for switching off the landline network in Ireland?
We found no national date: neither ComReg's page nor open eir's gives one, and copper is withdrawn exchange area by exchange area. For users who are not exempt, Eircom must publish at least 12 months' advance notice of the forecast switch-off date, addressed to other phone providers and ComReg. Ask your phone provider about your area.
Will my telecare alarm stop working when Eir switches off 3G?
Only if it relies on 3G. ComReg lists monitored care alarm devices among equipment that may be affected (as guidance only), and says a 4G or 5G-enabled device is not likely to be affected. The data sheet shows which radios the unit has.
Can a new SIM fix a 3G-only alarm unit?
No, not if the device itself lacks 4G. A SIM cannot add a radio that the device does not have. Ask the alarm supplier or monitoring company about a 4G replacement.
What does open eir advise for medical alarms on copper lines?
Open eir advises moving them to fibre or mobile alternatives, and says the alarm provider can help with this.
Why consider a multi-network SIM for a telecare unit on a mobile connection?
A single-network SIM depends on one operator's coverage at the address and one operator's retirement plans. SimFalcon says a multi-network IoT SIM gives the device more connection options than a single-network SIM, but it does not create signal where none exists, so test on site.
Questions about connectivity for your equipment? Talk to SimFalcon or ask Engineer Support.