EENA’s newsletter brings you the latest updates in emergency communications.
In this edition, you can read about Cell Broadcast implementation in Singapore and Malaysia, Thailand launching AML, New Zealand’s problems with tsunami alerts, and much more!
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EENA News
EENA responds to EU consultation on European climate resilience and risk management integrated framework
On 27 August, EENA submitted a response to the European Commission’s consultation on its proposed integrated framework for European climate resilience and risk management. While supporting climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, EENA highlighted the urgent need to prepare societies for unavoidable emergencies linked to climate change.
Drawing on recent tragedies, including the 2024 Spanish floods and 2025 Cypriot wildfires, EENA stressed the critical role of effective public warning systems. The response urged the Commission to require systems to meet standards outlined in the Niinistö report, including multi-channel alerts, geo-targeting, clarity, accessibility, regular testing, and public education. EENA also called for multilingual support, clear activation procedures, and full accessibility for people with disabilities.
The consultation remains open until 4 September 2025.
Blog post: Cybersecurity in control rooms
In 2025, control rooms in Europe face a cyberattack every 3.3 days on average. In our new blog post, Ross Venhuizen from the EENA Tech & Ops committee writes about the importance of cybersecurity in control rooms.
As the nerve centres of emergency response, control rooms are increasingly targeted by DDoS, TDoS, ransomware and credential abuse attacks. Strengthening their cyber resilience is not just a technical challenge; it is essential to protect critical communications, maintain public trust, and ultimately save lives. The blog post outlines the most common cybersecurity threats and offers practical steps to help control rooms strengthen their resilience.
Blog post: Getting started with AI in public safety: A guide for Public Safety Answering Points
Our new blog post provides a practical starting point for Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) considering the use of artificial intelligence. The article outlines how AI tools can support emergency call centres with functions such as speech-to-text transcription, language translation, predictive analytics, call triage and event summarisation. These tools are intended to assist, not replace, human call-takers, helping them manage increasing demand and improve response times.
Beyond the technology itself, the blog highlights what’s needed to make AI work in practice. From pinpointing operational challenges and involving staff early, to choosing tools tailored for public safety and ensuring data remains secure, the path to implementation is complex. The post encourages starting small, evaluating results, and scaling gradually, making clear that success depends as much on thoughtful planning and collaboration as on the tools themselves.
This blog post is sponsored by Hexagon.
Save the date: EENA Event: Future EU Legislation on Emergency Communications
Save the date for our upcoming event on EU legislation on emergency communications! The event will be held on 3-4 December in Brussels at the Microsoft Executive Briefing Centre. The event is limited to 120 participants. Stay tuned, as the registration for the event will open on 8 September!
Webinars
Emergency communications challenges and opportunities in the Digital Networks Act
25 September at 14:30 CEST
This webinar will present EENA’s latest insights on the future of emergency communications in Europe. We will explore unresolved issues with LTE and IMS and discuss how the EU’s Digital Networks Act can provide the framework to address these risks. The session will also present EENA’s full position on the DNA, highlighting key recommendations to ensure resilient, accessible, and future-proof emergency communications across the EU.
Add the webinar to your calendar.
Did you miss our latest webinar on effective public warning messages? You can now watch the recording of our webinar that explores how to create effective emergency messages through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system in the United States.
Are you interested in sharing your expertise in an EENA webinar? You can contact Sanna Antila at [email protected] to suggest topics you’d like to speak on in our upcoming webinars.
EU developments in public safety
EU outlines new steps to boost earthquake preparedness
In response to a written question from MEP Mihai Tudose, the European Commission reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the EU’s earthquake preparedness through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and new strategies on stockpiling and medical countermeasures. While welcoming these steps, Tudose called for more targeted measures to improve the EU’s capacity to support Member States after severe earthquakes. The Commission highlighted that the UCPM remains its core emergency response tool, and that it will be significantly enhanced through the upcoming EU Stockpiling Strategy and a proposed budget increase for the UCPM.
EENA notes that these proposals also include important provisions such as cross-border early notifications and support for adopting the Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service, which can deliver alerts even when mobile networks are down – a common consequence of earthquakes.
These developments signal a more coordinated and resilient approach to earthquake response across the EU.
ENISA to manage new EU Cybersecurity Reserve
The European Commission has signed an agreement with the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) to operate the newly established EU Cybersecurity Reserve. Backed by €36 million from the Digital Europe Programme, the Reserve will support response and recovery efforts during significant or large-scale cyber incidents across the EU, and, in some cases, in third countries associated with the programme. The Reserve will consist of trusted incident response service providers, which can be deployed to support EU Member States, institutions, and critical sectors (as defined under the NIS2 Directive, e.g. energy, health). ENISA will manage the budget over a three-year period, including procurement of services and evaluating deployment requests. The initiative is part of the Cyber Solidarity Act, aiming to strengthen the EU’s overall cyber resilience.
Read more here (European Commission).
EU wide study finds growing support for EU actions to protect its citizens during crises
Earlier this week, the European Parliament published the results of its biannual survey of EU citizens. These studies assess how Europeans feel about the EU, and what they think the EU should focus on in the future. The September 2025 survey found clear majorities in favour of increased EU actions to protect its citizens and support resilience. 68% of Europeans believe that the role of the EU to protect its citizens from global crises and security risks should become more important, while 90% of Europeans believe that the EU should be more united when facing global challenges, and 91% believe the EU budget should be flexible enough to adapt to new challenges such as natural disasters. Improving security and resilience was the most popular priority for the EU (37%), five percentage points above the second option of improving EU competitiveness.
Read more here (Eurobarometer).
Emergency communications around the world
Singapore to launch a Cell Broadcast system for emergency alerts
Singapore will begin a phased rollout of a Cell Broadcast system by early 2026, aiming to send real-time emergency alerts directly to mobile phones in affected areas. The initiative, led by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in collaboration with local telecom providers, is intended to complement existing warning tools such as sirens, the SGSecure app, and the myResponder app.
The system is part of broader efforts to leverage innovation in disaster management. Speaking at the ASEAN Strategic Policy Dialogue on Disaster Management, Minister Edwin Tong highlighted the importance of prompt communication, AI-powered prediction tools, and community-based preparedness. Singapore also showcased novel technologies, and reinforced its commitment to ASEAN-wide collaboration through knowledge exchange and localised disaster response training.
Read the full article here (Channel News Asia).
Thailand is launching AML for emergency calls
Thailand is launching its first Advanced Mobile Location (AML) service to support emergency response. Through a collaboration between the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau, AIS, and Google, the new 191 Emergency Location Service (ELS) enables AML-based location sharing when calling emergency services. When a person dials 191 (Thailand’s emergency number), AML is automatically activated, transmitting the caller’s precise location to emergency responders, even without an internet connection or installed app. This marks Thailand’s first deployment of AML, bringing its emergency services in line with other countries already using AML to improve caller location accuracy and reduce emergency response times.
Read more here (Kaohoon International).
Malaysia is developing a Cell Broadcast system for disaster alerts
Malaysia is planning to introduce a Cell Broadcast system to deliver faster and more targeted warnings during natural disasters. The system, currently under development by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), aims to move away from SMS-based alerts, which often face delays due to telco queuing. According to Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, the project has been proposed for Budget 2026 and would allow authorities to send alerts directly to people’s phones based on their real-time location. This system could be used for all types of natural disasters and emergencies. The announcement follows two minor earthquakes that occurred in Segamat and Kluang, which were felt across multiple states but caused no damage.
Read more here (Free Malaysia Today).
New Zealand tsunami alert prompts review after mixed experiences with mobile warnings
Following last month’s 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia, New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has explained why some people received dozens of alerts, while others got none. The variation was not due to system failures, but to device-level behaviours, such as overnight software updates, SIM setups, and network switching, which caused some phones to re-trigger alerts multiple times. Others didn’t receive any alerts because they were outside coastal risk zones, which were the only areas targeted via cell broadcast geotargeting. While the early morning alert drew criticism, NEMA defended its decision, citing the ongoing risk and the need to prevent complacency. Over three million devices received the alerts, and NEMA is now conducting a post-incident review to explore ways to reduce unintended disruptions in future alerts.
Read more here (The New Zealand Herald).
Punjab, India, integrates highway and cybercrime helplines into a unified 112 service
The Punjab Police has integrated the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) helpline 1033 and the cybercrime helpline 1930 into its statewide emergency number 112, streamlining access to multiple services under one platform. Citizens can now report road accidents, vehicle breakdowns, highway hazards, and cyber fraud through a single call to 112. The move, directed by DGP Gaurav Yadav, aims to simplify emergency access and eliminate delays by enabling real-time transfer of calls and coordination with relevant agencies. Highway distress calls dialled to either 112 or 1033 are now linked to both police and NHAI response teams. Meanwhile, cybercrime complaints received via 112 or 1930 are immediately registered in the National Cybercrime Portal by trained dispatchers.
Read the full article here (Desh Sewak).
Systemic failures threaten emergency response across the US
A tragic case in Washington, DC, where a young girl’s accurate emergency call was misrouted, has drawn renewed attention to the broader vulnerabilities in 911 systems across the United States.
The incident underscores how outdated technology, understaffing, and a lack of federal standards are affecting emergency dispatch centres nationwide. Despite dispatchers being the crucial first link in emergency response, they are still not federally recognised as public safety professionals, leading to inconsistent training, funding and equipment standards across regions. Many 911 centres still rely on legacy systems that can’t accurately locate callers or handle high volumes. While some areas are moving to Next Generation 911 technology — which supports live video, advanced geolocation, and text — such upgrades remain out of reach for many under-resourced communities. The sector is also experiencing chronic staffing shortages, with high burnout and limited mental health support for dispatchers. The absence of national mandates and sustained investment has resulted in a fragmented emergency communications landscape, where lives may be at risk due to misrouted calls or delayed responses. Experts and advocates are calling for comprehensive reform, including better training, mental health resources, and a nationwide push for modernisation to ensure a resilient and reliable emergency response infrastructure.
Japan launches satellite-based mobile data service for remote connectivity
KDDI, a Japanese telecommunications company, has launched data support for its au Starlink Direct service, making it the first to offer direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity for apps. Previously limited to text messaging, the service now enables access to essential tools like navigation, weather, and emergency alerts even in areas without mobile coverage. The service initially works on selected devices and extends KDDI’s mobile network across all of Japan, supporting its aim to “connect the unconnected.” This advancement could prove especially valuable in remote or disaster-affected areas.
Kansas emergency centre to trial AI for non-emergency calls
Lyon County Emergency Communications in Kansas will begin trialling an artificial intelligence system to handle non-emergency calls. The four-month pilot, launching within the next six weeks, is part of the centre’s strategy to address long-standing staffing shortages. Developed by San Francisco-based startup Hyper, the AI tool is expected to manage approximately 18,000 non-emergency calls by February. This shift aims to reduce the load on human dispatchers, allowing them to focus on critical 911 emergencies. Officials emphasised that the AI will not answer emergency calls—911 callers will still speak directly with trained staff. The decision on whether to keep the system permanently will be made after the pilot concludes.
Upcoming in our network
Take part in the first AWARE project demonstration
We are pleased to invite you to the first live demonstration of the AWARE project, which will take place on the 23rd of October, in Logarska Dolina, Slovenia! Join us to see the AWARE module in action and learn how it is strengthening public warning systems and helping to protect communities at risk of natural and man-made hazards.
The first AWARE demonstration will showcase the AWARE module integrated into a long-range acoustic device (LRAD/ACOUSTICS) provided by project partner GENASYS. Participants will experience how the system delivers crystal-clear warning messages issued by Galileo satellites directly to the affected population in a defined area.
Inspired by Slovenia’s devastating 2023 floods – the country’s worst natural disaster in decades – the demonstration scenario will simulate an impending natural hazard. It will highlight the operational capacity and effectiveness of the AWARE module in ensuring fast, reliable public alerts even when telecommunications networks fail.
The AWARE module will receive genuine Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service alerts broadcasted by satellites and transmit them to an equipped acoustic device. By providing audio messages, it ensures that timely, accurate information reaches citizens when it matters most, helping to reduce exposure to danger.