EENA Update 20/05/2026
EENA’s newsletter brings you the latest updates in emergency communications.
In this edition, you can read about problems with public warning related to drone incidents in Latvia and Finland, Estonia’s plans for cell broadcast, and much more!
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EENA News
EENA 2026 Conference discussions
Following the EENA 2026 Conference in Riga, we’ve published a series of blog posts exploring topics shaping the future of emergency communications in Europe, as discussed at the conference.
Emergency calls in danger: The hidden risks of the 4G and 5G transition
As legacy networks are switched off across Europe, this article explores the impact on emergency services, including risks to accessibility, location accuracy, and service continuity.
Enhancing caller location for faster and more reliable emergency response
How Europe is moving beyond cell-tower positioning towards more advanced, data-driven and network-based location solutions, while tackling key challenges like indoor positioning and interoperability.
When every second counts: How NG112 is rethinking emergency communications
An overview of how NG112 and ESInet are transforming emergency communications, alongside the challenges of fragmented implementation and the need for a unified, standards-based approach.
New EENA document: Emergency communications as critical infrastructure in Europe
Emergency communications are increasingly recognised as critical infrastructure, but what does that mean in practice? Our latest report explores the legal, security and strategic implications of this shift across Europe. The report looks at key EU frameworks, including the CER and NIS2 Directives, and examines how emergency communications, along with PSAPs, telecom providers and supporting ICT systems, fit within critical infrastructure and essential entity regimes. The paper also analyses upcoming legislation, national approaches across six Member States, and the broader resilience ecosystem, including interdependencies with sectors such as energy, cloud and public administration.
Projects
SUNSHINE project holds third EU space and civil protection training seminar in Romania
From 5 to 8 May 2026, the EU-funded SUNSHINE project held its third Training Seminar in Timișoara, Romania, continuing its programme to help civil protection authorities integrate EU Space Programme services into disaster management operations. The seminar brought together responders and experts from across Europe to explore the use of services such as Copernicus, Galileo, GOVSATCOM and IRIS² in emergency management. Particular attention was given to the Copernicus Emergency Management Service and the Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), which is attracting growing interest from EU Member States as a resilient alerting channel.
The SUNSHINE training series will conclude with a final seminar in Zagreb in June 2026. Express your interest in participating in the fourth Training Seminar in Croatia here!
Webinars
Implementing Android Emergency Live Video for PSAP
26 May 2026 at 14:30 CEST
This technical workshop from Google provides a practical guide for integrating Emergency Live Video using Android Emergency Location Service. The webinar is aimed at technical teams in the EENA community, including vendors, engineers, developers, and telecom partners. Discover how to enhance emergency response by receiving live video from Android devices. The webinar will cover the end-to-end flow:
- How Android Emergency Location Service activates and sends precise location and Additional Emergency Information (AEI), including the live_video_token, directly to your endpoint via HTTPS.
- Step-by-step instructions for setting up your backend to handle these requests.
- Triggering the live video session on the user’s device through a specially formatted SMS containing the token.
- Understanding the secure, user-controlled video experience.
- Troubleshooting tips and best practices to test everything end to end.
This webinar is sponsored by Google.
Add the webinar to your calendar.
Register here for the webinar.
SUNSHINE Training Webinar: Using EU Space Services to Tackle Wildfires and Floods
4 June 2026 at 09:30 CEST
This full-day technical webinar, organised under the EU-funded SUNSHINE project, provides hands-on training on the use of EU Space services for disaster risk management. Participants will gain practical guidance on accessing and applying Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) products for floods and wildfires, as well as insights into tools such as EFAS and EFFIS. Through live demonstrations, guided exercises, and interactive sessions with experts, the webinar supports the integration of space-based data into preparedness, response, and recovery activities.
Add the webinar to your calendar.
Resilience and support for call‑takers responding to suicidal crises
23 June 2026 at 14:30 CEST
Emergency call‑takers are on the frontline of suicidal crises, supporting people in their most vulnerable moments. While this work is critical and lifesaving, repeated exposure to high‑intensity calls places staff at risk of secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and long‑term emotional strain. This webinar explores how emergency communication centres can strengthen staff wellbeing through trauma‑informed practices, training, and operational support. The focus is on practical and evidence‑based approaches that help call‑takers maintain psychological resilience while continuing to provide safe, effective support to callers in crisis.
Add the webinar to your calendar.
Did you miss our latest webinar? You can now watch our webinar “Emergency Communications as critical infrastructure: Resilience, cybersecurity and EU law explained” on our Members’ Area!
Standardisation
Survey: How ETSI standards are used in practice
ETSI is running a survey to better understand how its standards are applied in real-world settings and which publication formats work best for users. The results will feed into an ongoing review of ETSI’s IT tools and processes, aiming to improve the usability and impact of its standards.
Emergency communications around the world
Finland reviews warning system after drone alert causes disruption
Finland has launched a review of its emergency warning systems following a drone-related alert that affected nearly two million people in the Uusimaa region. Authorities issued a shelter warning early Friday morning amid concerns that drones linked to the war in Ukraine could drift into Finnish airspace. No drones ultimately entered the country, and the alert was lifted shortly after 7 a.m. While officials defended the precautionary response, the incident exposed gaps in communication, with delays, inconsistent messages, and some authorities learning about the situation through media rather than official channels. Schools, daycare centres and public services were disrupted, highlighting challenges in coordinating information at the local level. The government has confirmed plans to improve the warning system, aiming for more effective and targeted communication in future crises.
Read more hear (Helsinki Times)
Latvian authorities are discontent with public warning management over the drone incident alert.
Latvian authorities expressed concern after residents in the eastern Latgale region largely ignored emergency warnings issued during a drone incident. Despite emergency cell broadcast alerts warning of a potential airspace threat, daily life reportedly continued as normal in Rēzekne and nearby municipalities. The public was urged to follow safety instructions more seriously during such incidents. The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) confirmed that emergency messages were sent within seconds after reports of explosions and damage to fuel storage tanks. Authorities believe several drones entered Latvian airspace from Russia, with at least two crashing in the Latgale region. A criminal investigation is underway to determine the drones’ origin. Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Silina voiced dissatisfaction with what she considers a tardy response to the drone crash in Rēzekne, saying that the cell broadcast alert was sent out only after the incident had already happened. An investigation into the matter will be conducted.
Read more here (Baltic News Network)
Read more here (The Baltic News)
Estonia is preparing to launch a new cell broadcast emergency alert system
The new system is expected to be ready nationwide by the end of 2026, and smartphone compatibility is targeted for the first half of 2027. The project forms part of a wider overhaul of the country’s EE-ALARM public warning system. The Rescue Board, the State Infocommunication Foundation (RIKS) and the provider have signed a development contract to deliver alerts directly to mobile phones via cell broadcast technology. Unlike SMS-based systems, the new platform would display pop-up warnings over all apps, function during network congestion and potentially override user settings with a dedicated alarm tone in extreme situations. Estonia has allocated €3.67 million to the project, though officials warn that achieving 90% device coverage may take over a year because the system depends on Apple and Google software updates.
TCCA publishes white paper on cybersecurity in critical communications
TCCA has released a new white paper aimed at bringing stakeholders together around cybersecurity for critical broadband communications. As the sector shifts towards 4G and 5G technologies, the complexity of networks — and the range of actors involved — is increasing significantly. The paper provides an overview of international standards, frameworks and deployment models, and highlights key challenges such as the growing number of interconnected systems and supply chain risks. It also encourages organisations to integrate cybersecurity from the earliest stages of system design and strengthen internal expertise. The initiative is presented as a first step towards stronger collaboration and the development of robust international standards for secure mission-critical communications.
Read more here (Critical Comms)
South Korea improves local safety infrastructure to reduce non-urgent 112 emergency calls
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency reported a 6.2% decrease in 112 emergency calls after launching its “Basic Order Re-Design” project, which focuses on resolving everyday public safety concerns raised by residents. Between February and April 2026, police received 2,256 citizen proposals through QR-code reporting systems, social media and community meetings, and completed nearly 1,800 improvement measures. Most requests concerned environmental safety issues such as installing CCTV cameras, streetlights, traffic mirrors and park improvements. Police also increased patrols and enforcement against drunken disturbances, illegal flyer distribution and harmful businesses near schools. During the project, 300 to 400 officers were deployed daily on public safety patrols. Authorities reported a 14.1% drop in low-priority “Code 4” calls, which mainly involve complaints and consultation requests. Crackdowns on harmful businesses near schools rose by 37% compared with the previous year, while police also arrested 557 people linked to illegal flyer distribution.
South Korea and Indonesia are partnering to improve 112 emergency system
Indonesia has partnered with South Korea to enhance its 112 single emergency call number system through cooperation between the Indonesian Home Affairs Ministry and South Korea’s National Fire Agency. During a visit on 13 May, Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian and South Korean National Fire Agency Commissioner Seung Ryong Kim discussed plans to improve the speed, integration, and responsiveness of Indonesia’s emergency services. A Letter of Intent was signed covering fire control, disaster management, emergency rescue systems, technical consultations, policy exchanges, and joint training programmes aimed at strengthening emergency response capabilities and personnel expertise in both countries.
Hong Kong reviews its emergency hotlines and technological upgrades
On 6 May 2026, Hong Kong authorities reviewed the performance of the city’s 999 emergency hotline and ongoing efforts to modernise emergency communications. Despite handling nearly two million calls each year, only a small share were genuine emergencies, while response standards remained high, with most calls answered within nine seconds. Officials highlighted the growing role of technology, including Advanced Mobile Location (implemented 2023), the HKSOS app (implemented 2024), and plans for a next-generation platform supporting multimedia reporting. Interpretation services have also been expanded through TRANSLINK 2.0. These developments reflect Hong Kong’s broader push to strengthen emergency response through digital innovation.
Read more here (Open Gov Asia)
US PSAPs continue integrating AI systems to deal with non-emergency calls
Anoka County (Minnesota) is introducing an AI-powered dispatcher, known as Eric, to manage non-emergency 911 calls as part of efforts to ease pressure on emergency communications staff. Operating from the county’s dispatch centre in Andover, the system handles routine calls by collecting key information such as names, phone numbers and incident details before forwarding urgent cases to live operators when necessary. Officials say the technology is intended to support, rather than replace, human dispatchers, particularly during periods of high demand such as multiple simultaneous fires or other major incidents. Dispatch staff, initially sceptical, now see the AI assistant as a way to reduce workload and stress in a job known for its mental health challenges. The county receives around 1,100 calls daily, with roughly two-thirds classified as non-emergencies. The service is expected to have an annual cost of $60,000.
The use of integrated AI systems in emergency communications raises concern among PSAPs
AI chatbots can now recognise signs of self-harm or crisis in conversations, but they still cannot directly contact emergency services such as 911. Systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT may offer calming advice, crisis resources or hotline links, yet the responsibility to call for help remains with the user. Public Safety Answering Points are already introducing AI for practical tasks such as handling non-emergency calls, training operators and summarising caller information for dispatch systems.
Allowing AI to contact emergency services automatically raises major issues linked to location accuracy, routing calls to the correct PSAP, identity verification, liability and the risk of false alerts or “swatting”. More realistic solutions are emerging, including opt-in safety profiles with verified contact and location data, AI systems connecting users to human crisis counsellors before any emergency response, dedicated NG911 data channels for trusted digital alerts, and built-in panic buttons within chat platforms. Public safety leaders are increasingly expected to prepare for these future developments.
Telecom operators in Nepal adapt to climate risks to ensure emergency communications
Climate change is increasingly impacting Nepal, with floods, droughts and landslides affecting both communities and infrastructure. Telecommunications networks, though vulnerable, are becoming essential for disaster preparedness. Operators have been sending SMS early warnings since 2016, helping evacuate thousands during past floods. Following major disruptions after the 2015 earthquake, attention has also turned to more resilient solutions such as cell broadcast. At the same time, investments in solar-powered infrastructure and remote connectivity are helping strengthen resilience and support climate adaptation.