Enhancing caller location for faster and more reliable emergency response

During an emergency call, getting the caller’s location accurately, fast, and even indoors, is becoming one of the defining challenges of modern emergency response.

At the EENA 2026 Conference in Riga, discussions showed how Europe is steadily moving towards network-based caller location, shifting from cell-tower positioning to a far more sophisticated, data-driven location ecosystem for 112 cell-based location.

Europe is very advanced in handset-based caller location. Nevertheless, improving caller location accuracy in emergency services is a central priority. Emergency call routing is based on cell towers, and the caller location is used by the PSAP to locate the caller after the call is sent to the most appropriate PSAP.

In their conference presentation, STS Romania outlined the progression of positioning technologies, starting with Cell-ID in 2008, followed by Advanced Mobile Location (AML) in 2020, HTML5 geolocation, and, more recently, Advanced Network Location (ANL), introduced in 2024. ANL uses network-based positioning that is independent of the handset, works across all mobile technologies, and remains functional even in weak coverage areas. It reaches around 75% accuracy within 50 metres, but it depends on extensive testing, reliable mobile data connectivity, and continuously updated mapping and road databases. HyperText Markup Language version 5 (HTML5) is the modern standard for creating and running web pages and web applications in a browser. HTML5 can be used to run a web-based geolocation tool, access a device’s location (with user permission) through the browser and does not require installing an app.

The discussion then shifted to indoor positioning, as most emergencies occur inside. Geographic Information System (GIS) and AI-driven indoor mapping can transform traditional floor plans into interactive 3D environments, improving situational awareness for first responders in complex buildings. Interoperability between systems and shared data models are identified as essential for scaling these solutions across regions and organisations.

Overall, the key takeaway is that emergency location systems must improve both outdoors and indoors through more accurate, interoperable and standardised approaches, while still addressing privacy constraints, particularly in private residential spaces.

SIP PIDF-LO for more advanced caller location

Emergency caller location systems are becoming more advanced as Europe looks for faster and more reliable ways to identify where 112 calls are made from.

One of the key technologies discussed at the EENA Conference is SIP with PIDF-LO. Presence Information Data Format – Location Object (PIDF-LO) is a standardised XML format used to convey caller location information during emergency communications. This information is carried within SIP messages. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is the signalling protocol used to set up, manage, and close communication sessions over IP networks. In NG112, SIP is what establishes the emergency call connection between the caller and the emergency infrastructure. Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a way of organising data using tags, similar to how HTML structures web pages, but designed for storing and exchanging information between systems rather than displaying content.

PIDF-LO can be used for both mobile and fixed communications. It can include both civic address data and geographic coordinates, and it can be generated by mobile devices, VoIP services, and enterprise tools. It is sent through packet-switched networks to PSAPs, and it can work even when a device is not fully registered, which makes it more flexible than AML in some limited service situations and roaming.

However, deployment is uneven across Europe. Support depends on device manufacturers, operating systems, and chipset providers, and this fragmentation slows down adoption. PSAPs also need the right systems to decode and manage the incoming data, which makes interoperability with mobile operators essential.

Different countries are progressing at different speeds. Greece is introducing PIDF-LO also to help tourists. Sweden has tested it extensively since 2024 but, for the moment, still mainly relies on AML as the primary solution. Belgium is pushing for stronger involvement from device manufacturers.

Overall, PIDF-LO plays a key role in certain cases, especially roaming and limited connectivity, but it works best alongside AML until it is completed. In all, speakers stressed that a successful implementation depends on early testing, strong coordination between all actors, and full operational readiness rather than technology alone.