New Delhi, 26 October 2024
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) adopted a landmark resolution at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) in New Delhi, focusing on the provision of handset-derived caller location information for emergency communications. This initiative, proposed by the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) under the auspices of the Conference of European Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), represents a significant step towards enabling emergency services worldwide to more efficiently locate individuals in need of urgent assistance.
This newly adopted resolution recognises the life-saving potential of smartphone technologies that leverage global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), Wi-Fi, and mobile network information to provide more accurate location data, complementing traditional network-based methods. By integrating these technologies, emergency services can be dispatched more quickly, reducing response times and saving lives.
Collaboration for global impact
The resolution calls for collaboration across ITU’s three sectors—Standardization, Development, and Radiocommunication—and with other United Nations bodies to promote and raise awareness of this life-saving technology. It also opens the door for future technical and operational recommendations, to be developed during the 2025-2028 study period by ITU-T, the telecommunications standardization sector of the ITU. EENA is committed to contributing the work in ITU-T and driving the development of global standards for handset-derived caller location information, helping improve safety and security worldwide.
A milestone for public safety
EENA believes this resolution marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of emergency communications. The technology for transmitting precise location information from smartphones to emergency services is already proven in Europe, North America, and other regions, with clear evidence of its life-saving benefits and cost-effectiveness. This resolution is a key enabler for expanding the global adoption of these technologies, ensuring that more countries can implement this solution at minimal cost with maximum impact.
Looking ahead
The adoption of this resolution paves the way for future innovations in emergency communications. As the smartphone market continues to grow, and with most devices now capable of providing precise caller location, this initiative is set to positively impact millions of lives around the world.
EENA extends its sincere thanks to all stakeholders involved in this effort, especially CEPT’s Committee for ITU Policy (Com-ITU) and the Collaborative Coalition for International Public Safety (CC:IPS), whose support was instrumental in this achievement.
The new resolution on handset-derived caller location information and all other decisions of the conference are publicly available in the WTSA-24 Proceedings.
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About EENA
EENA, the European Emergency Number Association, is a non-governmental organisation based in Brussels with the mission to contribute to improving the safety and security of people. Today, the EENA community includes 1,500+ emergency services representatives from over 80 countries, 100+ solution providers, 100+ researchers, and 200+ Members of the European Parliament. EENA is proud to serve as a platform for collaboration and learning within the public safety community.
About CEPT
The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) is an organisation where policymakers and regulators from 46 European countries collaborate to harmonise telecommunication, radio spectrum, and postal regulations to improve efficiency and coordination for the benefit of European society. CEPT conducts its work through three autonomous committees: the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC), the Committee for ITU Policy (Com-ITU), and the European Committee for Postal Regulation (CERP). The chairs of these committees form the organisation’s Presidency, supported by the European Communications Office in Copenhagen, Denmark.
About Com-ITU
The Committee for ITU Policy (Com-ITU) is responsible for organising CEPT’s engagement with the ITU for Plenipotentiary Conferences, World Telecommunication Development Conferences, World Telecommunication Standardisation Assemblies, and other key meetings. The committee also plays a vital role in communicating CEPT’s views to the ITU Council.
About CC:IPS
The Collaborative Coalition for International Public Safety (CC:IPS) promotes, supports, and improves emergency communications and emergency services using the latest technologies, standards, and best practices. Its membership includes APCO Canada, the British Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (BAPCO), NENA: The 9-1-1 Association, APCO International, the National Emergency Communications Working Group – Australia & New Zealand (NECWG-A/NZ), the Organisation of American States (OAS) and EENA.