EENA’s newsletter brings you the latest updates in emergency communications.
In this edition, you can read about Estonia’s plans for a Cell Broadcast system, the FCC’s review of emergency alert systems, problems with wildfire response in Greece and Cyprus, a UK study on false eCalls, and much more!
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EENA News
The Commission is undermining its own resilience agenda
Ten Members of the European Parliament from the Intergroup on Resilience, Disaster Management and Civil Protection recently pressed the European Commission to clarify when it would take legal action against Member States failing to implement caller location (Article 109) and public warning (Article 110) of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC).
In its 6 August reply, the Commission agreed that these technologies are essential for public safety, security and health, but refused to commit to enforcement, saying it would continue monitoring and review the EECC later in 2025. Seven years after the Code entered into force, key obligations remain unimplemented in several Member States, which is a gap that undermines resilience and public safety, as shown recently in Cyprus, where the lack of mobile-based public warning contributed to lives lost during forest fires. EENA calls on the Commission to move beyond monitoring and take legal action to ensure that existing EU resilience rules are implemented and citizens are protected.
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
Designing effective emergency messages: Tools and insights from the U.S. WEA system
26 August at 14:30 CEST
Join us for a webinar exploring how to create effective emergency messages through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system in the United States. Drawing on over five decades of empirical research, Dr. Jeannette Sutton will walk us through essential strategies for delivering timely and actionable messages, whether for imminent threats, missing persons, or post-event notifications. The webinar will showcase tools, such as message templates, software, databases, and documentation, that support alert and warning providers in creating standardised, consistent, and clear communications. The latest innovations in public warning systems that aim to reduce delays in public response and improve outcomes in crisis situations will also be presented. If you work in public safety communications or emergency management, this session will give you concrete strategies and tools to improve how you design and deliver alerts.
Add the webinar to your calendar.
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.
Emergency communications around the world
Estonia to launch new Cell Broadcast alert system by 2027
Estonia has announced a new €3.7 million emergency alert system based on Cell Broadcast technology, set to be operational by 2027. The system will replace the country’s current SMS-based alerts, which have proven too slow and unreliable during tests. The new system will deliver rapid warnings via sound, vibration, and light to smartphones and will operate alongside Estonia’s existing “pocket siren” 5G alert system. Officials say the two technologies will complement each other for greater reliability. Development and testing are underway, with procurement in preparation and maintenance costs expected at €500,000 annually.
Read the full article here (ERR).
FCC launches major review of U.S. emergency alert systems
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a full review of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), marking the first in-depth evaluation in over 30 years. The review follows recent alerting failures in Hawaii and Alaska and aims to ensure that alerts reach the public faster, more accurately, and across modern platforms. The rulemaking will examine who can issue alerts, how alerts are transmitted, how information is delivered (including across streaming and digital platforms), and how federal and local systems coordinate. The Commission also highlighted the need for multilingual alerting, after delays in implementing previously approved language templates. Public broadcasters were praised for their role during recent emergencies, while concerns were raised about poor messaging, system redundancy, and crisis communication. The FCC will accept public comments as it develops proposals to modernise the U.S. alerting infrastructure.
Wildfire fallout escalates into a political row over the 112 alert system in Patras
Greece’s Minister of Civil Protection, Giannis Kefalogiannis, has strongly criticised Patras Mayor Kostas Pelettidis following recent wildfires that swept through the region. The minister accused the municipality of failing on multiple levels, including prevention, limited firefighting participation, and ineffective public communication. He expressed particular concern over the mayor’s reported discouragement of citizens from following 112 emergency alert instructions, despite having repeatedly requested those alerts himself. The criticism comes as Greece continues to rely on the 112 system as a key tool for protecting public safety during natural disasters. The incident has sparked renewed discussion about local preparedness and trust in emergency warning systems.
Post Luxembourg cyberattack disrupts emergency access, raises infrastructure concerns
A cyberattack on Post Luxembourg caused a major network in July, temporarily disrupting access to emergency numbers 112 and 113. While no one was harmed and emergency services were not the direct target, officials confirmed that some numbers were unreachable for Post customers. Hackers reportedly exploited a vulnerability in Huawei routers used at the network edge. Though patched, the attack triggered a snowball effect affecting both internet and telephone systems. The government confirmed no data was stolen and no ransom was demanded. However, officials, including MP Ben Polidori, called for stronger resilience measures, such as using independent providers for backup systems and improving LU-Alert messaging. Lawmakers also urged stricter safeguards for critical infrastructure and warned that Luxembourg, like many others, is now facing a rising cyber threat landscape.
Read the full article here (Virgule, in French).
False alarms and ageing networks undermine eCall’s potential
A new RAC Foundation report reveals that the UK’s in-vehicle eCall emergency alert system, designed to accelerate response to road crashes, triggered over 350,000 emergency calls since 2018, with two-thirds in 2024 alone deemed false alarms. Most of these calls were manually triggered, often by mistake, due to poor interface design or lack of awareness. Even automatic activations, triggered by crashes, showed a false alarm rate of around one in three. Beyond usability, up to 4 million vehicles fitted with early versions of eCall risk losing functionality as they rely on 2G and 3G networks now being phased out. Despite these issues, the system still holds significant potential. Experts believe eCall could reduce road deaths by 5% and assist in stopped vehicle detection on motorways. The report calls for better public education, system updates, and improved integration with traffic and emergency services to realise its life-saving promise.
Viral 112 call in Cyprus sparks concern over emergency response readiness
A Facebook post by a Cypriot citizen describing his alarming experience with the 112 emergency number has gone viral, sparking national debate. The incident occurred on 15 August, when Christos Mouskos and his wife spotted a roadside fire near the Paphos forest and called 112. Instead of immediate support, he says he was met with indifference — the operator allegedly failed to ask for his name, location, or offer any guidance. The post, which included video footage, triggered public outrage and prompted the Police to launch an internal investigation. While the fire was eventually contained, many see the case as a stark warning about preparedness and operator training, particularly during a high-risk wildfire season. The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of Cyprus’ delayed implementation of modern public warning systems.
Curaçao advances implementation of Cell Broadcast emergency alert system
The Government of Curaçao is moving forward with the full implementation of a Cell Broadcast–based public alert system, following a successful test conducted in March 2025. The system is designed to rapidly inform the public, including tourists, of crises and emergencies via mobile alerts. At a meeting on 11 August, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, ministers, and emergency services reviewed the system’s operational benefits beyond crisis use. Key next steps include adapting legislation, integrating the system into the Central Dispatch Centre, and formalising agreements with relevant partners. The alert system is being developed in collaboration with the Crisis Team, police, fire services, meteorological office, and risk reduction authorities. By gradually implementing Cell Broadcast, Curaçao aims to enhance public safety and ensure rapid response capabilities in emergencies.
Read more here (Curaçao Chronicle).
London Ambulance Service cuts response times despite rising demand
The London Ambulance Service (LAS) has significantly improved its emergency response times, reaching patients faster in July 2025 compared to the same month last year, according to new NHS England data. The average response to category one (life-threatening) calls dropped to 6 minutes 56 seconds, down from 7:25, while category two (urgent) calls, including strokes and chest pain, were reached eight minutes faster on average. This improvement comes amid increased demand, with LAS handling nearly 192,000 calls in July — a 7% rise from 2024, partly due to extreme heat. LAS credits the gains to better dispatch processes, faster hospital handovers, and more clinical assessments by phone, which helped 27,500 patients avoid unnecessary hospital visits. Chief Executive Jason Killens praised staff efforts, noting that further improvements are planned to keep pace with rising pressures on the NHS.
France rolls out NexSIS 18-112, a unified emergency call system
France is deploying NexSIS 18-112, a unified, open-source platform designed to modernise the country’s emergency call infrastructure (notably numbers 18 and 112). Managed by the Digital and Civil Security Agency (ANSC) and hosted on the sovereign French cloud provider Scaleway, the platform replaces fragmented legacy systems with a single interface accessible through a web browser. The system enables real-time caller geolocation, seamless data transfer between services, national-level statistical reporting, and full interoperability between fire and medical services. It is being co-developed with firefighters and maintained through regular bi-weekly updates.
NexSIS aims to reduce IT costs by 40% and is projected to save €500 million over ten years. The project is designed for future integration with AI tools and emphasises digital sovereignty by avoiding reliance on non-European infrastructure. The system is already in use in a dozen departments and will expand nationwide, reinforcing France’s emergency resilience while optimising cost and performance.
Read more here (Les Numériques, in French).
Huntington Beach, California, to deploy drones as first responders for 911 calls
Starting September 13, the Huntington Beach Police Department will launch a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, sending unmanned aerial vehicles to certain 911 calls before officers arrive. Operated remotely from rooftop hubs across the city, the drones, equipped with thermal imaging, high-res cameras, and GPS, are expected to reach scenes in under two minutes, significantly enhancing situational awareness. The program, with an annual budget of approximately $120,000, aims to reduce officer deployment for non-critical incidents and improve response efficiency. All drone operators must hold FAA certification and complete department training. The department emphasises that the system is reactive only, deployed for verified emergency calls, not for general surveillance.
Read more here (Mercury News).
FEMA launches $40 million grant for next-generation emergency alerts
FEMA has announced $40 million in funding under the Next Generation Warning System Grant Program (NGWSGP) to help states and Tribal Nations identify gaps and strengthen public alerting infrastructure. The goal is to modernise IPAWS-compatible alert and warning capabilities by embracing flexible, interoperable, and forward-looking technologies. Grant recipients will explore diverse distribution pathways—including streaming services, sirens, satellites, and connected devices—to deliver timely, actionable, and accessible alerts across audio and visual platforms. The programme also promotes whole-community collaboration, with field testing, training, exercises, and policy development to improve cross-jurisdictional coordination and the resilience of public alerting systems.
Upcoming in our network
Express your interest in joining the SUNSHINE training seminars: EU space solutions for disaster resilience
The SUNSHINE project, which is developed under the guidance of the European Commission’s DG DEFIS and in partnership with DG ECHO, is launching a series of training seminars designed to help professionals in this field use EU Space data and services to strengthen disaster resilience across Europe. Four multi-day in-person seminars will be held in 2025 and 2026, and the first one will take place in Tallinn, Estonia, from 24 to 27 November 2025.
If you work in civil protection, emergency management, or disaster risk reduction, this is your opportunity to express interest in joining the SUNSHINE training series. Take part to boost your skills, gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge EU Space tools, and help your organisation lead the way in using advanced technologies for disaster resilience.