Why single-path signalling creates risk
Alarm signalling depends on one thing above all else: the signal reaching the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). If that transmission breaks, the entire system loses its purpose.
Many alarm systems still rely on a single communication path. Maybe it’s a mobile network. Maybe it’s broadband. Either way, if that path goes down, the alarm can’t call for help. The panel might function perfectly, detecting intrusions and logging events, but without transmission, no one responds.
Network failures are routine events. In summer 2025, Electrical Engineering Magazine reports that large parts of the UK experienced widespread mobile and landline network outages that left thousands unable to access emergency services. BT reported a software issue that affected the EE network and its ability to interconnect calls. Ofcom opened formal investigations. These were headline incidents that disrupted critical connectivity nationwide.
For installers working on commercial properties, care homes, or high-value residential sites, the stakes climb higher. Clients expect reliability. Insurers often mandate it. A system that goes silent during a network outage meets neither standard.
What redundancy actually means in practice
Redundancy in alarm signalling means the system has more than one way to reach the ARC. If the primary path fails, a backup route takes over automatically. The signal keeps moving.
This approach identifies single points of failure and eliminates them. Modern IP-based alarm signalling can use multiple networks simultaneously or switch between them when one drops. Some systems combine mobile data with fixed broadband. Others use dual SIM configurations with different network operators.
The goal is straightforward: ensure the alarm signal always has a route through, regardless of what happens to any individual network.
Ofcom requires telecom providers to “take appropriate and proportionate measures to identify and reduce the risks” to network availability. But telecom resilience and alarm system resilience operate independently. Even if a provider has backup power and redundant infrastructure, a software fault or configuration error can still take down service across large areas. Your alarm system needs its own resilience, separate from what the telecom operator promises.
Network infrastructure vulnerability continues
Telecom networks are complex. They rely on power supplies, software systems, interconnection agreements, and physical infrastructure all working in sync. According to Electrical Engineering Magazine, mains power disconnections have been linked to millions of lost mobile customer hours as sites without sufficient backup power cannot maintain connectivity during extended outages.
The transition away from PSTN has added new dependencies. IP-based systems rely on broadband infrastructure, router configurations, and power at the customer premises. A power cut that takes down the router can silence the alarm, even if the panel has battery backup.
This is where dual-path signalling becomes essential. If broadband drops, mobile takes over. If one mobile network fails, another carrier provides the route. The system responds automatically without waiting for manual intervention.
For installers, this matters beyond technical robustness. It’s about managing your own risk. When an alarm fails to signal during an incident, the question that follows is simple: could this have been prevented? If the answer is “yes, with redundant signalling,” that’s a difficult position to defend.
What installers should look for in resilient signalling
Redundancy quality varies significantly. Some systems offer dual-path signalling as standard. Others require additional hardware or subscriptions. The key is understanding what happens when the primary path fails.
Look for solutions that monitor both paths continuously and switch automatically. The ARC should receive notification if either path drops, but the alarm system should keep signalling regardless. Some systems test connectivity every few minutes, catching failures before an actual alarm event occurs.
Certification matters too. Intruder alarm services certified to EN 50136 standards require specific transmission path configurations depending on the security grade. Higher grades mandate redundancy because the risk of signal loss is unacceptable.
For clients transitioning from PSTN and ISDN networks as the January 2027 deadline approaches, this is the moment to build resilience into the system from the start. Moving from PSTN to a single IP path maintains the same vulnerability. It swaps one dependency for another.
The operational reality for ARCs
From the ARC’s perspective, redundant signalling provides a critical safety net. If one transmission path fails, the ARC will still receive any alarm events that occur in the interim, because the second path remains active and continues to deliver signals. Without dual-path, a single connectivity failure means the site goes dark entirely, and any alarm during that window is lost. With dual-path, the protection holds even when part of the infrastructure doesn’t.
ARCs already deal with enough variables: client behaviour, false alarms, equipment faults. Network outages add unnecessary complications. Installers who specify resilient signalling make the ARC’s job easier and reduce the likelihood of missed events.
This also matters for client retention. A property owner who learns their alarm went offline during a network outage and nobody noticed until days later will ask hard questions. If competitors are offering dual-path systems as standard, that’s a tough conversation.
Building resilience into every install
Redundancy has become the baseline expectation for any alarm system that matters. Network failures will continue to happen. Infrastructure will age, software will glitch, and power will drop at inconvenient moments.
The systems that keep working through these disruptions are the ones built with multiple paths from the start. For installers, this means specifying signalling solutions that work despite network conditions, choosing equipment that monitors, switches, and alerts automatically.
Your clients trust that the alarm will work when needed. That trust depends on signal transmission, and transmission depends on the network staying up. Since you can’t control the network, you need to control how the system responds when the network fails.
AddSecure provides comprehensive alarm signalling solutions designed to maintain connectivity even when individual networks drop. Our dual-path systems automatically switch between routes, ensuring your clients stay protected regardless of network conditions.
Speak to our UK alarm signalling team about building resilient, multi-path signalling into your next installation. We’ll help you assess options that match your client’s risk profile and certification requirements. Get in touch here.
Frequently asked questions:
- Q: What is network redundancy in alarm systems?
A: Network redundancy in alarm systems means the system has multiple communication paths to reach the Alarm Receiving Centre. If the primary network fails, a backup route automatically takes over, ensuring continuous signal transmission without manual intervention. - Q: Why do alarm systems need dual-path signalling?
A: Alarm systems need dual-path signalling because network outages are routine, not rare. Last year, power interruptions at mobile sites caused 12 million lost customer hours. If an alarm relies on a single network and that network fails, the signal stops and the property goes unprotected. - Q: How common are telecom network outages in the UK?
A: Telecom network outages occur regularly. Vodafone’s October 2025 blackout triggered 130,000 outage reports. In summer 2025, widespread UK network failures left thousands unable to access emergency services, prompting formal Ofcom investigations. - Q: What happens when an alarm system loses network connectivity?
A: When an alarm system loses network connectivity, it cannot transmit signals to the Alarm Receiving Centre. The alarm panel may function and detect intrusions, but without transmission, no response is triggered and the property remains unmonitored. - Q: How does dual-path alarm signalling work?
A: Dual-path alarm signalling monitors multiple network routes simultaneously, such as broadband and mobile data or dual SIM configurations. When the primary path fails, the system automatically switches to the backup route, maintaining continuous connectivity to the ARC. - Q: What should installers look for in resilient alarm signalling?
A: Installers should look for systems that monitor both paths continuously, switch automatically when failure occurs, and notify the ARC if either path drops. The solution should also meet EN 50136 certification standards for the required security grade.