EENA’s newsletter brings you the latest updates in emergency communications.
In this edition, you can read about Czechia’s plans to launch cell broadcast, Latvia’s cell broadcast test, Australia’s issues with emergency calls, and much more!
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EENA News
EENA calls for immediate action as people lose the ability to contact emergency services following 2G/3G shutdown
Europeans are increasingly unable to reach emergency services while roaming. Throughout 2025, emergency services and national authorities have reported growing cases where people in an emergency could not call 112 or other emergency numbers.
This is not caused by the 2G/3G shutdown, but by incompatibilities between some smartphones and 4G/5G emergency calling, made worse by simplified roaming architectures that do not fully support access to emergency services. The risk has been known for years. Similar issues appeared when 2G/3G networks were shut down in the US and Australia, when EENA warned the Commission about this. We are now publishing the letters it sent to the European Commission in 2022 and 2024, which warned that Europeans could lose the ability to reach emergency services while roaming.
With EU operators preparing to shut down 2G and 3G in 2026, urgent EU-level action is needed to ensure everyone can reach 112 when it matters most.
Recommended actions for PSAPs in response to emerging 112 roaming failures
Contact the press in your country to raise awareness of this issue. If you want information on speaking points for the press, reach out to Peter Lonergan at [email protected].
Urgently raise this issue with your national authorities to ensure they are aware of this impending issue.
Ensure tests are conducted in your country on different 4G/5G capable devices in roaming and non-roaming scenarios, to ensure they can contact emergency services over IMS (4G/5G).
Call for national authorities to raise sufficient awareness among citizens that some devices, including 4G/5G capable devices, may no longer be able to contact 112 following the 2G/3G shutdown.
Ensuring 112 works during crises: EU institutions and EENA met 112 Ukraine in the European Parliament
On 2 December, EENA and MEP Grégory Allione hosted an event in Brussels with representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament and civil society to discuss how Europe can improve public safety during major crises and support Ukraine’s emergency services. Ukraine’s Deputy Interior Minister Leonid Tymchenko and Oleksandr Sinkov from SES Ukraine shared how the country has modernised its 112 system, built resilient public warning capabilities and introduced advanced accessibility features, including video and sign-language services.
The discussions also highlighted vulnerabilities within the EU’s own emergency communications systems, particularly in light of recent blackouts and emerging issues affecting 112 while roaming. It is clear that 112 remains a critical lifeline during crises, and that modern emergencies place unprecedented pressure on systems that must remain reliable and accessible. With negotiations on the Digital Networks Act and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism beginning in 2026, the EU has a key opportunity to strengthen access to 112 and public warning and ensure that people across Europe can depend on timely and effective help during emergencies.
Future EU Legislation on Emergency Communications
Our event on Future EU Legislation on Emergency Communication took place on 3-4 December. Over two days, we examined the key issues that will shape the future of emergency communications in Europe as the EU prepares the Digital Networks Act. The programme took a look into the future of access to 112, public warning, accessibility, and caller location, as well as insights into Ukraine’s emergency communications during the war. The programme also examined the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and the transition towards packet-switched networks and NG112.
The discussions showed that the upcoming Digital Networks Act and the transition to next-generation technologies will bring both opportunities and challenges for ensuring reliable access to 112 and effective public warning. We are encouraged by the commitment shown by all participants to improving the reliability and accessibility of 112 and public warning across Europe.
We look forward to continuing this work together in the months ahead!
Webinars
Did you miss our latest webinar? You can now watch the recording of our webinar on handling emergency calls in foreign languages! In the webinar, the 112 Response Center of the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy) will share its experience in managing multilingual emergency calls through the use of a third-party translation service.
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.
Projects
SUNSHINE Project hosts first Training Seminar on EU space data and services for disaster resilience
From 25 to 28 November, the EU-funded SUNSHINE project, where EENA is a member of the consortium, held its first Training Seminar at the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences in Tallinn, marking a major step in strengthening the use of EU Space Programme services within civil protection. The four-day event brought together responders and experts from across Europe to explore how Copernicus, Galileo (including EWSS), Space Situational Awareness, GOVSATCOM and IRIS² can support preparedness, early warning and emergency response. Participants took part in workshops, case studies and hands-on demonstrations, gaining practical insight into how space-based data can enhance national and cross-border disaster management.
Read more here (European Commission)
Emergency communications around the world
Hundreds of thousands of Samsung devices flagged as unable to make an emergency call in Australia
Optus has informed the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) that up to 470,000 Samsung devices on its network may not be able to call the emergency number, a figure it later described as a “worst case scenario”. The company clarified that only 33,209 active Optus customers require a software update, while 17,000 unfixable devices have already been blocked as required by regulation. The issue, linked to the 3G shutdown and affecting more than 70 Samsung models, impacts multiple operators. Telstra reported 114,527 affected devices, which will be progressively blocked between now and early January. The problem has taken on greater urgency after TPG confirmed a fatal incident in which a Samsung device with outdated software failed to connect to the emergency number. ACMA is continuing its investigation and will publish findings once complete.
Czechia to launch nationwide cell broadcast emergency alert system in 2026
The Czech Interior Ministry has confirmed that a new cell broadcast emergency warning system will go live nationwide in the second half of 2026. The system will deliver instant, location-based alerts to all mobile phones in an affected area, without requiring an app or data connection. The upgrade follows major incidents such as the 2024 floods and the Charles University mass shooting, during which the existing SMS-based warning system became overloaded and delayed. Cell broadcast will be used for events including floods, fires, chemical leaks, major outages and violent attacks. Alerts will be approved centrally by the National Operations and Information Center, with plans to expand to additional channels in the future.
Germany adds all-clear messages to its national cell broadcast system
Germany’s Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) has introduced an all-clear function to its cell broadcast system, enabling authorities to inform citizens not only when danger arises but also when it has passed. The feature, launched on 25 November, was developed and tested jointly with all national mobile network operators. The BBK notes that issuing an all-clear is not required under EU rules, meaning Germany is going beyond minimum obligations to improve public safety and clarify evolving situations for the population.
Read more here (Heise Online).
Latvia tests nationwide sirens and cell broadcast alerts
Latvia successfully carried out a nationwide test of its public warning systems on 26 November, with 159 of 164 sirens operating as expected, according to the State Fire and Rescue Service. Five sirens are currently being repaired or relocated. For the first time, the national cell broadcast system was tested alongside the sirens. Mobile operators successfully forwarded 99% of alerts, but some residents did not see the test notification. Officials explained that this was due to smartphone settings, not system failure: while iPhones enable test alerts automatically, many Android devices require users to manually activate “exercise alerts” in their settings. Authorities emphasised that in a real emergency, multiple channels would be used to ensure warnings reach the public, regardless of individual phone settings.
Petition calls for EU-wide access to Wi-Fi Calling, including for 112
A petition to the European Parliament and a parliamentary question have raised concerns about inconsistent access to Wi-Fi Calling across the EU. Many operators restrict the service to domestic use or block it entirely when users are abroad, forcing consumers to rely on paid roaming services even when Wi-Fi is available. This creates particular problems in border regions and can also limit access to emergency services in areas with poor mobile coverage. The petitioner is urging the EU to require all mobile operators to enable Wi-Fi Calling by default and to guarantee access to emergency services (112) via Wi-Fi Calling anywhere in the EU. In its reply to the MEP question, the European Commission noted that limitations in providing caller location during Wi-Fi calls may lead operators to default to traditional calling methods. The Commission added that it is in contact with mobile operators and national regulators to monitor developments and assess possible future actions.
Read the parliamentary question here.
Read the answer to the question by the Commission here.
Nigeria moves toward adopting a single national emergency number
The Nigerian Senate has begun the second reading of a bill that would establish one nationwide, toll-free emergency number for all Nigerians. The proposed National Emergency Toll Service (NETS) aims to replace the current patchwork of different police, fire, ambulance, and crisis helplines with a simple, unified three-digit number. Lawmakers noted that countries such as Europe have long benefited from harmonised emergency numbers that speed up response and reduce confusion. Senators argued that Nigeria’s current system, where multiple numbers operate even within the same city, slows down help during life-threatening situations. Under the bill, calls and texts to the new number would be automatically routed to the nearest response centre. With mobile penetration nearing 90%, senators said the infrastructure exists to support a unified system. The bill has been sent to the Senate Committee on Communications for further review and is expected to significantly strengthen Nigeria’s emergency response framework if passed.
Malaysia develops new cell broadcast–based early flood warning system
Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) are developing a new early flood warning system using cell broadcast technology, set to replace the current SMS-based alerts. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the system will deliver faster, more accurate warnings to communities at risk, especially during the Northeast Monsoon. The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve disaster preparedness in collaboration with MetMalaysia, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, state governments and security agencies. Nadma is also working with the UK Met Office through the WCSSP programme to strengthen weather and climate forecasting, including impact-based flood alerts using colour-coded warnings. The government plans continued enhancements through new technologies such as big data and AI, as well as improved access to early warning information in rural communities.
Police in southern England trial AI assistant to ease non-emergency demand
Two police forces in southern England, Thames Valley Police and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, have begun trialling an AI-powered chatbot, “Bobbi,” designed to answer frequently asked non-emergency questions and reduce pressure on call handlers. Bobbi, trained on the same information used by control room staff, provides instant responses to routine queries and is available alongside existing phone lines, online forms, and front-counter services. If the chatbot cannot answer a question or a user requests human assistance, the conversation is immediately transferred to a member of police staff. Chief Superintendent Simon Dodds stressed that the initiative is not a staff-cutting measure, noting the forces can receive up to 5,000 calls per day, making it essential to prioritise 999 calls. More than 200 testers, including victim support groups, contributed to Bobbi’s development. The system will continue to be refined to stay aligned with legislation, policies, and community needs.