Property Managers Go Cellular in Elevators

For property managers, maintaining safe, code-compliant buildings is always the priority. Yet many owners are still relying on copper phone lines that are being retired across the country. Others are facing the growing problem of copper wire theft on their sites, and many have aging intercom or emergency phone systems that no longer operate reliably. Cellular elevator phone service has become the most practical upgrade available today, and Destra Business Services is making that transition simple through Mobile Connect 2.

Cellular connectivity has matured to the point where it now outperforms legacy copper in nearly every category that matters to building operations. Cellular lines are immune to local wire cuts, weather damage to telco infrastructure, and theft. When we install a Mobile Connect 2 in your elevator machine room or main telecom closet, emergency communication becomes fully independent from the outside copper network. Even if the building loses all outside copper service because a carrier decommissions a trunk line, the mobile Connect 2, and more importantly your elevator phones continue operating without interruption.

Property managers who oversee multiple locations are finding that this shift removes a major point of failure. Copper outages create service calls, angry tenants, stalled inspections, and additional spending. A single cellular device supporting your elevator phone or area of refuge call box allows you to eliminate the recurring risk while tightening compliance reliability.

Mobile Connect 2 provides steady, high-quality voice service designed specifically for emergency communication. Traditional VoIP solutions depend on the building’s network, power grid, and IT team. By contrast, Mobile Connect 2 is a dedicated cellular lifeline. It maintains uptime independently; it operates when local internet fails; and it keeps the elevator phone reachable for testing, monitoring, and mandated inspections. Your equipment becomes easier to certify, and inspectors get consistent dial-out results.

Intercom Systems Updated to Cellular

Aging intercom systems benefit too. Many of these systems were originally tied to analog trunks that no longer exist in many metropolitan areas. Instead of replacing the entire intercom infrastructure, a property manager can upgrade the communication backbone with a cellular connection. This extends the life of existing equipment and delays large capital expenses, while improving reliability for tenants who use lobby or gate intercoms to access the property.

Financial Benefits of Cellular for Emergency Communications

There are meaningful financial advantages associated with cellular emergency phone upgrades as well. The IRS provides incentives for ADA-related improvements; depending on the nature of the installation, property owners may qualify for the Disabled Access Credit or the Barrier Removal Deduction. Emergency elevator phones and areas of refuge call boxes fall under accessibility requirements. When a property manager upgrades these systems to ensure uninterrupted emergency communication, parts of the project may be eligible for tax credits or deductions. Every building is different, check with your bookkeeper; however, many owners find that the cost of converting to cellular decreases substantially when these IRS incentives are applied.

Additional savings accumulate over time. Cellular-backed emergency lines remove monthly telco charges from analog business lines, which can range from $60 to $120 per line. Our cellular service plans for emergency phones start at $39, significantly less. When a property has multiple elevators or call boxes, the long-term reduction in operating expenses becomes a noticeable gain. See how much you can save with our Savings Calculator.

Future-proof your elevator phones

Cellular also future-proofs the building. The nationwide phase-out of copper has already begun in several states, and carriers are accelerating timelines as network maintenance becomes more expensive. Property managers who convert early avoid last-minute shutdowns and costly emergency replacements. Mobile Connect 2 installs quickly and works with existing elevator phone equipment, which allows you to upgrade on your schedule rather than the carrier’s.

Operationally, managing these systems becomes easier. Mobile Connect 2 integrates with monitoring tools that allow remote testing. Property managers gain faster reporting, fewer on-site technician visits, and more predictable maintenance costs. By centralizing communication health across all elevators and refuge areas, the risk of an unnoticed outage is nearly eliminated.

Cellular service also aligns with modern emergency communication expectations. Tenants expect that pressing the elevator help button will always work. Inspectors expect consistent dial-out results. Insurance providers often prefer buildings with updated emergency communication systems because they reduce risk exposure. A cellular upgrade addresses all these concerns at once.

The Upgrade

Destra Business Services handles the entire transition from copper to cellular. We provide the hardware, the installation, the activation, and the ongoing service through Mobile Connect 2. Property managers receive a reliable, code-compliant emergency phone connection that bypasses the failing copper network and delivers a more predictable financial model for the long term.

Modern buildings require modern communication pathways. Cellular service solves the reliability gaps left by copper lines, strengthens emergency preparedness, and offers real financial benefits through tax incentives and ongoing cost reduction. For properties of any size, upgrading emergency elevator phones, areas of refuge call boxes, and intercom systems with Mobile Connect 2 is proving to be one of the most cost-effective and future-ready improvements a manager can make.