EENA’s newsletter brings you the latest updates in emergency communications.
In this edition, you can read about L.A.’s false evacuation alert, FCC advancing multilingual emergency alerts, China’s new satellite communication milestone, emergency alert tests in the UK, our upcoming events and webinars, and much more.
Subscribe to the newsletter here!
EENA News
A draft programme for the EENA 2025 Conference is published!
Join us in Helsinki, Finland on 9-11 April for the 2025 EENA Conference & Exhibition! The three-day conference is packed with insightful sessions, cutting-edge technologies, and valuable networking opportunities.
The event will open with an inspiring discussion featuring Dr Hamza and Waad al-Kateab, sharing their powerful story of resilience and hope. We will also host a special screening of For Sama, offering a moving account of their experiences during the Syrian conflict.
Over two-and-a-half days, we will also explore key topics in emergency communications, including:
- Operational challenges in PSAPs
- Public warning systems
- Next-Generation eCall implementation
- Meeting EU legislation requirements
- AI applications
- NG112 standards
Take a look at the draft programme here!
Plan your trip to Helsinki
Our conference website includes all the practical details to help you organise your trip. You’ll find information on getting around Helsinki, booking your accommodation, and accessing discount codes for selected hotels to make your stay more affordable.
Don’t forget early bird registration! If you register for the Conference before 31 January 2025, the price for members is 125 EUR (excluding VAT). After 31 January, the member’s price is 150 EUR (excluding VAT).
EENA is proud to announce the launch of the 2025 Tech & Ops Committee!
The Tech & Ops Committee of EENA resumes its activities this month, setting out for another year of knowledge-sharing and innovation in the sector of emergency services. The Committee is a working group comprising of 12 members who are experts on technical and operational issues related to emergency response. Together, they bridge technology and operations to foster the exchange of expertise and drive positive change for citizens’ safety.
Covering a wide range of subjects, the Tech & Ops Committee produces several documents and webinars throughout the year. Our 2025 agenda is brimming with interesting topics, from new technologies and cybersecurity to Next Generation 112 and accessibility. Informative documents, engaging webinars, and insightful blogposts are in the works!
Learn more about the committee.
EENA calls for BEREC to ensure copper switch-off lessons are applied in the 2G and 3G switch-off
EENA’s response to BEREC’s draft report on managing copper network switch-off highlights the importance of applying lessons from the copper switch-off to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency communications during the 2G and 3G switch-off. Key insights include avoiding forced disconnections, ensuring alternative networks, and maintaining proactive communication to prevent service disruptions. These are particularly crucial as many users may not realise the reliance on services like eCall on 2G/3G networks. EENA highlights the need for sufficient notice periods and next-generation devices like NGeCall to ensure smooth transitions and safeguard public safety.
The AWARE project celebrates one year of activities
EENA is participating in the AWARE project, an EU-funded initiative aimed at expanding public warning capabilities beyond smartphone alerting. The AWARE project enhances public safety by integrating Galileo satellite alerts into fixed devices like display panels, speakers, and indoor systems, ensuring timely, reliable warnings even when traditional networks fail.
The first year of AWARE is now complete—learn all about it in this blog post.
Want to stay updated on the project? Subscribe to the AWARE newsletter!
Webinars
Lessons from the Cyber Attack on Slovenia’s Civil Protection System
28 January 2025, 14:30 CET
During the summer of 2022, Slovenian Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration was the target of a cyberattack, which affected the work of emergency services. This webinar will focus on the anatomy of ransomware attacks, including how such malware can be rented as a service on the dark web. It focuses on the specific cyber attack targeting the information system of Slovenia’s Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. The session will detail the timeline of the attack, the actions taken during and after the breach, and the efforts to mitigate its consequences. An assessment of the actual threat level will also be discussed, along with an analysis of data linked to the incident that was uncovered on the dark web.
Add to your calendar.
Register to the webinar.
Key Strategies to a Successful NG112 Roadmap
25 February 2025, 14:30 CET
The transition from analogue to digital technology is underway, yet the systems we rely on to save lives are falling behind. The EU has required the public authorities to develop and implement an NG112 roadmap. While each locality is unique, there are some common steps on the path that lead to full NG112 implementation. During this webinar, we will discuss some of the key considerations of NG112 roadmap development as well as the tender and contract process needed.
Emergency communications around the world
False evacuation alert sent to 10 million people around Los Angeles
An evacuation alert intended for the West Hills neighbourhood during the Los Angeles County wildfires was mistakenly sent to nearly 10 million residents, creating widespread confusion. Technical issues, possibly linked to cellphone tower disruptions, caused the alert to reach unintended recipients and repeat the following day. Officials are investigating the error with Genasys, the alert system provider, and have temporarily switched to a state-operated system for future notifications. The incident has sparked concerns about public trust in emergency alerts, with officials stressing their importance and pledging to address the issue to prevent future mistakes.
Read more here (The New York Times).
FCC advances multilingual emergency alerts
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has introduced multilingual templates for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), allowing public safety officials to deliver alerts in 13 additional languages, plus American Sign Language, alongside English and Spanish. Covering 18 common alert types, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, the templates eliminate the need for live translation during emergencies. Alerts will display in a user’s default language, if supported, or default to English. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel stressed that language should not be a barrier to safety, with FEMA backing the effort to improve accessibility for those with limited English proficiency.
Brazil implements Advanced Mobile Location
Brazil has implemented Advanced Mobile Location (AML) for emergency calls, automatically sending the caller’s location during emergency calls. AML uses GPS, cell tower triangulation, and Wi-Fi signals for precise location tracking, with accuracy as close as five meters. Enabled on Android phones (from version 5.0) and iPhones (from iOS 18.2), AML requires no user setup and works across all mobile networks, from 2G to 5G, at no additional cost. The system, developed by Anatel in collaboration with mobile operators, emergency services, and ABR Telecom, updates location data throughout the call. It also supports text messages to emergency numbers. Brazil joins over 70 countries already using AML, with São Paulo’s Military Police among the early adopters after pilot tests.
Read more here (Mobile time, in Portuguese).
China achieves 100Gbps laser satellite communication milestone
China has reached a milestone in laser satellite communications, successfully establishing a 100Gbps laser link between an orbiting satellite and a ground station—enough to transmit 10 feature films in a second. This breakthrough marks a new era for satellite communications, offering faster, more secure data transmission compared to traditional radio frequencies. Laser technology also supports advanced encryption methods, such as quantum cryptography, enhancing communication security. This innovation has wide-ranging implications: it could provide high-speed connectivity to remote or underserved areas, revolutionise emergency communications by enabling rapid data transfer during crises, and accelerate space exploration by transmitting large volumes of mission data efficiently.
Read more here (A21, in Spanish).
UK to test cell broadcast system in 2025
In 2025, the UK will conduct another nationwide test of its cell broadcast system (EAS), though the exact date is yet to be confirmed. The system, first trialled in 2023, sends a 10-second siren-like sound and vibration to mobile phones, even on silent mode, with safety advice for severe events like floods or fires. The EAS has been used in real emergencies four times, including warnings for River Soar flooding, Storm Darragh, and a World War Two bomb transport in Plymouth. Users are able to disable alerts via phone settings or by turning off their device.
Andalucía activates new emergency agency to improve response to disasters
The new Asema (Agencia de Seguridad y Gestión Integral de Emergencias de Andalucía) agency for security and integral emergency management of Andalucía has been operational since the first day of January 2025. The agency unifies Andalucía’s disaster and emergency response under the Junta de Andalucía, bringing together nearly 5,000 personnel from key services like the Plan Infoca forest fire agency, the Andalusian rescue and emergency group (GREA), the 112 telephone service and the Andalusian institute of emergencies and public security (IESPA). It addresses climate change-related risks, such as floods and forest fires, with an integrated management system, excluding health emergencies.
Read more here (Sur in English).
Tourist asked to speak Kannada in an emergency call
A Spanish tourist in Bengaluru, India, alleged that an emergency helpline operator asked him to speak Kannada during a burglary at his apartment, leading to the call being disconnected. The incident reportedly occurred on January 15. Bengaluru Police, however, stated that they did not receive any call from the tourist during the burglary. The first official call to the helpline came at 9:18 am and was disconnected without conversation. A second call provided limited information but also ended after a Kannada response. The incident was later reported by the tourist’s neighbours, prompting police action. Officials noted the challenge of handling thousands of daily calls, emphasising the difficulty in distinguishing genuine emergencies.
EENA was here
A glimpse of the recent events EENA has taken part in.
Meeting with the European Disability Forum (EDF)
14 January 2025
EENA met a representative from the European Disability Forum to discuss next steps in the new legislative term on how to make sure that emergency communications remain accessible for people with disabilities.
Meeting with MEP
15 January 2025
EENA met with MEP Kristien Vigenin (S&D) to discuss accessibility in emergency communications. The meeting reviewed the current state of accessibility in emergency communications, highlighting the implementation of real-time text in Europe. Discussions also addressed accessibility challenges for people with intellectual disabilities, emphasising the importance of using simple language to improve their access to 112 services. Additionally, advancements in caller location technology were noted as significantly enhancing the ability of emergency services to locate callers with intellectual disabilities. EENA remains committed to improving the accessibility of 112 and will prioritise this in its future initiatives in the European Parliament.