A Case Study of Accessibility: 999BSL
In this blog, Katie Hanson, Senior Consumer Affairs Manager at Ofcom UK, explains 999BSL – a service introduced in 2022 that allows deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users to access emergency services in their first language. How does 999BSL work, and what was the process of consulting sign language users to ensure the service met their needs? What are the key requirements for 999BSL and how does it ensure equivalent access? What were the challenges, and how did the service overcome these? Find out more below.
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Improving 112 accessibility in Estonia
We are aware of the importance of accessible emergency services and the legislative requirements placed on EU countries, but how are countries ensuring that these are put into practice? We hear the perspective of Kaili Tamm, advisor on 112 at the Estonian Ministry of Interior.
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EENA meets Mher Hakobyan from EDF
There are around one billion persons¹ with some form of disability in the world and over 100 million² live in Europe. Disability affects a high proportion of the population but are emergency services accessible to all? How can they ensure that all people can get help when they need it?
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Are we crossing the stream to get water?
Dispatchable location has over the years been one of the most prominent challenges for the public safety sector. Gustaf Nordenhök delves into this topic.
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NG112 interoperability testing: from Europe to USA
Back in 2016, EENA and ETSI launched the first Next Generation 112 (NG112) Emergency Communications Plugtests. 5 years later, we’re going intercontinental. As today marks the kick-off of the fourth NG112 Plugtests, we look at why the event is so important and how it has evolved over the years.
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Lifesaving chain of events: from an emergency call to help arriving on scene
You pick up the phone to call a family member. You dial and connect after a few seconds. You start to chat. Most likely, you never thought about the chain of events behind the scenes that made that conversation possible.
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Resolving the eCall Callback Issue
eCall is estimated to have the potential to save up to 2,500 lives annually. But one legacy issue remains: ensuring a callback service is possible.
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8 recommendations to get the most out of Public Warning Systems
Here were are! Today is the deadline for the 3,5-year long-period for the Member States of the European Union to deploy telephone-based public warning systems. However, public authorities should not limit themselves only to the legal mandate but rather make sure to get the best possible system to alert their population.
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Can AI & VR solve the challenges of our first responders?
As we accelerate into a digital-first future, there are some jobs that can never be replaced. Emergencies happen all the time and the first responders are crucial players in controlling the damage and saving lives. Ambulance workers, firefighters, police officers; all these workers are needed in extraordinary times. And they are people, the same as the ones they’re saving. So who is helping them?
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Enterprise Emergency Communications
Emergency calls and communication technology have a close connection to each other. However, the rapid technological change and its application in public networks and internal companies complicate routing emergency calls from companies to the most appropriate PSAP.
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