For use in a wireless voice network, an alarm system and method of operation thereof. In one embodiment, the alarm system includes: (1) a local transceiver that, in response to a received stimulus, establishes an out-of-band wireless link of diminished bandwidth to a wireless central monitoring station in the wireless voice network and (2) a local controller, coupled to the transceiver for bidirectional communication therewith, that receives commands from the wireless central monitoring station via the wireless link.