How to Easily Transition Your Fire Alarm Systems from POTS in 2025

Maintaining fire alarm monitoring on Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines was always easy to justify. They were reliable, ran on dedicated copper, and were once a cornerstone of life safety.

2025 has arrived, and (in a continuing and accelerating trend) POTS is on the way out.

Telecom carriers are sunsetting copper lines to prioritize fiber optics and digital networks. Costs to maintain POTS have skyrocketed, and NFPA 72 fire code compliance is increasingly difficult with these legacy connections.

In this blog, I'll show you why transitioning from POTS is mandatory, how best to do it, and how Digitize can help you create a seamless migration plan. Let's dig in!

The Problem with POTS Lines

For decades, POTS was the standard. Even afterward, it remained "good enough" for quite some time. But times have changed.

"The phone companies just aren't giving us a choice at this point. Copper lines are no longer being maintained or even offered by many service providers."
- John Ermatinger, Engineer at Digitize

Telecommunications providers have all but abandoned copper lines, which means:

• Skyrocketing Costs: Maintaining a single POTS line can cost up to $1,000 per year in some areas.
• Phased-Out Infrastructure: Copper isn't just expensive. It's also hard to find. Technicians can't even install or repair lines in many regions.
• Technical Failures: Many alarm systems still rely on analog signals. When passed over VoIP networks, these signals often become unreadable by central stations.

With NFPA 72 putting strict requirements on dual-path communication, POTS lines are quickly becoming a violation risk.

This is no longer a question of "if" you should transition, but "when."

Why POTS Is No Longer Viable

Historically, building fire alarm systems relied on POTS lines for redundancy. Today, this approach simply isn't enough. Here's why:

1. Signal Integrity Issues
   VoIP networks compress and packetize analog signals, which can disrupt critical alarm transmissions.
2. Lack of Redundancy
   NFPA 72 now requires dual-path communication. Relying on two POTS lines that share the same vulnerable infrastructure leaves you exposed to simultaneous failures.
3. Aging Infrastructure
   Old dialers and fire panels were built for copper lines. Adapting them to modern networks requires specialized equipment - or outright replacement.

If you're still counting on copper lines to power your fire alarms, you might already be flirting with compliance issues and communication failures.

Avoid These 3 Hidden Costs of Delaying the Transition from POTS

It's tempting to wait. After all, planning a transition can seem a little scary. Remember, however, that delaying inevitably leads to bigger headaches:

1. Skyrocketing Maintenance Costs
   Service providers impose premium charges for diminishing copper lines. As demand for POTS falls, prices only climb higher.
2. Emergency Repairs & Compliance Penalties
   POTS-based alarms fail more often than they used to. If a signal doesn't get through during an emergency, you could face fines (or worse!).
3. Downtime & Communication Failures
   Degraded copper is less reliable. A single outage can offline your alarm system and pose a serious liability risk.

Procrastinating doesn't actually save money in the long run. Hidden fees, emergency repairs, and fines can end up costing you much more (and sooner than you think!).

What is the Ideal Modern Solution?

To avoid these pitfalls, you need a strategy that preserves your existing fire alarm infrastructure while adapting to modern communication. A future-proof solution should include:

• Multiple Communication Methods
  IP, Ethernet, mesh radio, and cellular backhaul. You can't rely on just one path.
• Integration with Legacy Systems
  Mediation devices let you keep your existing fire panels without a complete forklift upgrade.
• Enhanced Monitoring
  IP-based alarms can transmit status updates more frequently, so you get near-instant notifications (instead of 24-hour dial-up check-ins).

You don't have to rip and replace everything. The right solution will adapt to your site's specific needs.

Featured Option: Bridge the Post-POTS Gap with Digitize Devices

At Digitize, major technology transitions like this one are the problems we're built to solve for you. Our product line is designed to help you make clean, cost-effective shifts. In this particular case, that means a smooth transition away from legacy POTS.

The Prism LX will likely be a useful tool for your transition. It helps you:

• Bridge Legacy & Modern: The Prism LX mediates between older analog panels and IP/Ethernet/cellular networks, so you don't have to replace working fire equipment.
• Versatile Communication Options: Digitize supports Ethernet, IP, and robust wireless solutions. As John Ermatinger puts it:

  "We offer a large line of products that utilize IP-based network communications, as well as wireless solutions with radio. These eliminate the need for POTS or even fiber-based communication infrastructure."

• Built-In Compliance & Redundancy: With dual-path (Ethernet + cellular) communication, the Prism LX helps you meet NFPA 72 while cutting down on single points of failure.

Case Study: Transitioning Municipal Facilities to New Alarm Transport

Municipal campuses often monitor alarms across multiple buildings. Many already have LAN/WAN networks, making Ethernet or IP-based solutions an obvious choice. When infrastructure is limited, wireless mesh radio fills the gap.

"For clients without existing infrastructure, radio has been a game-changer. It provides the same robust communication without the cost and effort of laying physical lines."
- Digitize Engineer John Ermatinger

With Prism LX forming the core of your alarm system, you can configure each building with whichever communication method best suits its layout. You can mix and match Ethernet and radio to ensure total coverage.

The Role of Wireless Radio in Modern Alarm Monitoring

What if you don't have reliable wired/fiber infrastructure for alarm reporting? That's where wireless radio steps in. It's ideal for remote sites, sprawling campuses, or places where trenching fiber is cost-prohibitive.

Key Benefits of Radio:

• Infrastructure Independence: No POTS lines, no fiber cables - just reliable, self-contained connectivity.
• Reliability in Emergencies: During power outages or disasters, radio networks aren't vulnerable to the same failures that affect wired lines.
• Cost Efficiency: Skip expensive trenching and reduce monthly fees for line service.
• Scalability: Mesh networks can cover large campuses, municipal complexes, or multi-building facilities.

With Digitize's radio solutions integrated into systems like the Prism LX, you get NFPA 72 compliance without needing any copper or fiber buildout.

4 Keys to a Smooth Transition for Your Fire Alarm Systems

Migrating away from POTS doesn't have to be painful. You just need to take a proactive, staged approach:

1. Assess Current Infrastructure: Audit your fire panels, monitoring connections, and existing network. Figure out exactly where POTS lines are currently in use. I'm sure you have at least a pretty good idea of the scope of the problem, or you probably wouldn't be reading this!
2. Plan Out Your Communication Options: Choose Ethernet/IP if you have a robust network. Choose cellular or radio as backups (or if you lack physical connectivity).
3. Take Advantage Scheduled Maintenance: Time your new installation with annual tests or other planned downtime. That way, you can combine tasks and minimize disruptions.
4. Choose Systems that Support a Multi-Stage Transition: Pick devices that let you phase out POTS on your schedule. Prism LX, for example, can handle both old copper connections and modern IP/cellular as you migrate.

By following these steps, you'll avoid surprises and maintain continuous code compliance.

Take Action Before It's Too Late

POTS lines will soon be history. Whether you work for a hospital, school district, municipal facility, or private campus, you need a reliable, code-compliant plan to keep your life safety systems online.

Don't wait until your transition is rushed and maximally disruptive!

With Digitize solutions like the Prism LX, you can start your upgrade now and ensure a smoother, more budget-friendly transition.

Call Digitize at 973-663-1011 or email us at info@digitize-inc.com to discuss the right solution for your facility. Our team will help you design a custom plan - whether you need IP, cellular, radio, or a combination of all three.