Phonely Celebrates CallGuard Recognition at the TECA Awards 2026

Phonely is celebrating another exciting achievement after reaching the finals of the Tackling Economic Crime Awards (TECAs) 2026.

Our CallGuard digital landline service earned a place in the Outstanding New Product, Software or Technology category. This marks Phonely’s second finalist recognition in the same category, following our success in 2024.

Although we didn’t take home the award, we’re incredibly proud to reach the finals again. It reflects our continued commitment to helping UK households protect themselves from scam and nuisance calls.

Celebrating the TECA Awards 2026 in London

On Tuesday 3 November, members of the Phonely team attended the TECA Awards ceremony at the Royal Lancaster London.

The annual awards celebrate individuals, organisations and technologies making a difference in the fight against economic crime. The official 2026 finalist announcement included Phonely’s CallGuard in the Outstanding New Product, Software or Technology category.

Our category brought together a diverse range of innovations, including entries from Experian, Quantexa, Starling and Cifas.

To see CallGuard recognised alongside these organisations was a proud moment for our team and a welcome acknowledgement of the work behind the service.

Why CallGuard Was Recognised

CallGuard is Phonely’s digital landline service with built-in scam and nuisance call protection. It helps UK households reduce unwanted calls through automatic call blocking, call screening and features that support family involvement.

The service particularly benefits older adults, people living alone and families who want additional reassurance about who can reach their home phone.

At Phonely, we believe everyone deserves to answer their phone with confidence. That’s why we developed CallGuard to help stop unwanted callers before they reach the household.

CallGuard combines several protective features:

• Automatic call blocking: A regularly updated block list helps prevent known nuisance and scam numbers from getting through.
• Call screening: Unknown callers can be asked to identify themselves and complete a simple keypad check before the call is connected.
• Trusted Person feature: A nominated family member or trusted contact can join a live call to offer support when needed.
• Offline Alerts: Help nominated contacts stay informed when a home phone connection goes offline.

Together, these features provide additional protection while helping customers keep the familiarity of their home phone.

Helping UK Households Stay Connected and Protected

As the UK moves towards digital landlines, choosing a home phone provider isn’t just about making and receiving calls.

For many families, it’s also about feeling confident that older relatives can stay connected without being overwhelmed by unwanted callers.

Phonely’s aim is to make that transition simpler and safer.

Customers can keep their existing home phone number when eligible for number transfer, and many can continue using their familiar handset with a suitable adapter.

By combining digital landline technology with practical call protection, we’re working to make home phone services more reassuring for the people who depend on them.

A Second TECA Finalist Recognition in Three Years

Reaching the finals of the same TECA award category in both 2024 and 2026 marks an important milestone for Phonely.

This repeat recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to developing technology that helps protect consumers from scam and nuisance calls.

We’re proud to stand alongside organisations that share our dedication to tackling fraud and economic crime.

We’d also like to congratulate this year’s winners and fellow finalists on their achievements.

Most importantly, we remain focused on our mission: helping UK households stay connected while reducing the risks and disruption caused by scam calls.

Find Out More About CallGuard

Looking for a digital landline with built-in protection against scam and nuisance calls?

Discover how Phonely’s CallGuard service can help you or someone you care about enjoy a more reassuring home phone experience.