EENA’s newsletter brings you the latest updates in emergency communications.
In this edition, you can read about problems with the NG911 rollout in California, an upcoming strike at the 112 call centre in Andalucía, tests and advancements on cell broadcast systems, our upcoming events and webinars, and much more.
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EENA News
Register now for the EENA 2025 Conference & Exhibition!
Registration is open for the EENA 2025 Conference & Exhibition! Get ready for three days packed with insightful discussions, cutting-edge technologies, and valuable networking opportunities.
Join us at Messukeskus in Helsinki, Finland, on 9-11 April 2025!
Our programme will explore topics related to implementing EU legislation requirements, AI applications, NG112 standards, operational topics, and more.
Open letter on the need for a European Parliament Intergroup on Resilience, Disaster Management, and Civil Protection
EENA calls for the establishment of a European Parliament Intergroup dedicated to Resilience, Disaster Management, and Civil Protection in an open letter, signed by our president, Demetrios Pyrros. The recent floods in Spain expose ongoing gaps in EU disaster risk management. While technologies like mobile public warning systems show progress, a stronger focus on resilience and civil protection is essential. The cost of inaction is too great to overlook.
New document: Accessible Emergency Communication via Relay Services
Our latest document, Accessible Emergency Communication via Relay Services, provides an overview of the operations of relay services across various EU countries, with a particular emphasis on video relay services (VRS). It highlights technical standards and regulations shaping the provision of relay services, especially with the transition to Next Generation technologies. By examining the interaction between relay services and emergency services, the document analyses how technical and operational standards will influence accessibility in the future.
Announcement: 112 Awards Ceremony
Due to resource constraints, the 112 Awards Ceremony will not take place during our 2025 annual event in Helsinki. This was a tough decision, as we deeply value recognising exceptional public safety achievements.
We’re already planning for the next edition in April 2026, and all nominations submitted will be considered then. Thank you for your understanding and support of our mission to improve safety for all. Stay tuned for more updates!
NG112 & AI Days
Our NG112 & AI Days are currently taking place on 4-5 December in Santa Cruz de Tenerife! This event brings together experts, innovators, and stakeholders to discuss the future of emergency communications and the role of AI in enhancing public safety. We wish all attendees a productive and inspiring conference! Stay tuned for updates and highlights from the event.
Webinars
Enhancing cardiac emergency responses with volunteer first responders in Europe’s rural areas
12 December at 14:30 CET
Many European regions follow the European Resuscitation Council Guidelines by alerting volunteer first responders (VFRs) near out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs), crucial in the ‘chain of survival.’ While VFR systems work well in urban areas, rural experiences are less understood. This webinar presents research on response times and rural VFR experiences, stressing the need for more recruitment and fire service dispatch in rural areas.
Add to your calendar.
Register here.
Regulatory news
ETSI Technical Report on 6th NG112 and NGeCall Emergency Communications Plugtests
ETSI has published a report on the 6th NG112 and NG eCall Emergency Communications Plugtests. ETSI, in partnership with EENA, hosted the sixth event at the University of Malaga from 30 September to 4 October 2024. The event tested components of the NG112 communication chain, focusing on location-based and policy-based emergency call routing, next-generation media types like Voice and RTT, and NG eCall over NG112 infrastructure. The results confirmed the maturity of NG112 technology, with multiple vendors offering interoperable solutions, paving the way for the procurement and deployment of next-generation emergency communication systems.
Emergency communications around the world
California suspends NG911 rollout
The rollout of California’s Next Generation 911 (NG911) system was suspended after the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) identified serious issues with the project. These included lost calls, outages, and failures in the new network, which jeopardised public safety. Key concerns included inadequate transparency, contractor accountability, and unreported outages, such as a 12-hour failure in Tuolumne County. Despite the challenges, the advisory board overseeing the project reiterated the urgent need for a modernised 911 system and called for improved communication and realistic timelines.
Union calls strike action at Andalucía’s 112 emergency call centre
The CGT trade union has announced a strike at Andalucía’s 112 emergency call centres, based in Malaga’s Technology Park, running from 5 December to 6 January. The strike protests the exclusion of workers from the new ASEMA agency, poor working conditions, and the privatisation of the service. Workers will stage two-hour stoppages during various shifts across multiple days during the Christmas period, with variations in timing across centres. The union accuses Ilunion Emergencias, the contractor, of profiting millions annually while offering inadequate conditions to highly qualified emergency workers. CGT demands that staff be integrated into ASEMA and that inequalities in pay, labour, and social conditions be addressed. A mediation meeting is scheduled for 3 December to resolve the dispute.
Problems in emergency calls in Denmark following operator outage
Danish telecom operator TDC Net experienced a major outage on 27 November, attributed to a software update. The disruption left thousands of customers unable to make calls, including emergency calls to 112. While TDC Net ruled out a cyberattack, the outage caused significant issues, such as reduced non-critical hospital services and security services patrolling streets to assist those in need. TDC Net has implemented a fix allowing calls with reduced sound quality and advised customers to remove their SIM card before calling 112. The company is Denmark’s largest network provider.
Read more here (Data Center Dynamics).
Brazil to roll out cell broadcast system from December
Brazil is set to launch its nationwide emergency alert system, Defesa Civil Alerta, using cell broadcast technology, in the Southern and Southeastern states on 4 December 2024. Coordinated by the National Civil Defense and implemented by mobile operators Algar, Claro, TIM, and Vivo, this geotargeted system will send emergency alerts directly to mobile phones, overriding other functions. No user registration is required, and alerts will be automatically sent to all 4G and 5G devices in affected areas.
Read more here (Telecompaper).
Cell broadcast system tested in Phuket, Thailand
True Corporation, Thailand’s leading telecom-tech company, collaborated with government agencies to conduct a live simulation of the cell broadcast system in Phuket on 19 November. As the Cell Broadcast Center (CBC), True Corporation tested system integration with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), the Cell Broadcast Entity (CBE), in a real-time simulation. Phuket, a key tourist hub and a major economic contributor, was chosen for its importance to Thailand’s tourism and its vulnerability to natural disasters. The Cell Broadcast system is set to launch soon, providing rapid and reliable emergency alerts.
Read more here (Bangkok Post).
Upcoming in our network
Webinar: An introduction to the Bliksund Crash Recovery System (CRS) – How to transform emergency response and improve operational efficiency
10 December at 13:00 CET
Join Bliksund for a webinar introducing the Bliksund Crash Recovery System (CRS), a tool providing instant access to critical vehicle information during accidents. In this webinar, you’ll discover how CRS improves safety, streamlines communication, and enables faster, more accurate decision-making in critical situations. You will learn how CRS operates and integrates seamlessly into existing processes, how data is collected and managed, and the key benefits of using CRS in emergency response. Real-life examples will illustrate how CRS enhances safety, streamlines communication, and supports faster, more accurate decision-making in critical situations.
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EENA was here
A glimpse of the recent events EENA has taken part in.
Space Safety Industry Day 2024
28 November 2024, Paris, France
EENA participated in a panel on direct-to-device satellite communications at the European Space Agency’s Space Safety Industry Day. This emerging technology enables smartphones to connect to the internet and make calls or send SMS via satellite when terrestrial coverage is unavailable. During the event, EENA highlighted several use cases of direct-to-device technology for emergency communications, such as providing 112 access in remote areas and serving as a fallback network during disasters like earthquakes or floods. EENA also stressed that satellite technology providers must meet the same obligations as terrestrial networks, including proper PSAP call routing, accurate AML transmission, and prioritisation of emergency communications.
European eCall Implementation Platform meeting
29 November 2024, videoconference
EENA participated in the 18th expert group meeting of the European eCall Implementation Platform. The agenda included discussions on regulatory activities, eCall standardisation, the CEF deployment project, ETSI Plugtests results, implementation aspects, and solutions for the legacy fleet.