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Table of contents
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Selected Highlights
	An introduction to critical infrastructures
	Internet security and critical infrastructures
	Location -enhanced 112 in Europe - interview
	The role of OSS in protecting the network
	Milliseconds are vital - interview
	TETRA and TETRAPOL

The availability of a location-enhanced, unified emergency call number has been made a goal of high priority by the European Commission. In July 2003, the Commission issued a Recommendation for the Europe-wide implementation of the location-enhanced 112. From 2000 to 2002 the Coordination Group on Access to Location Information by Emergency Services (CGALIES), which was established by the Commission, explored what has to be done to achieve this. Eurescom mess@ge talked to emergency-service experts Knut Viddal-Ervik and John Medland, who were both members of the CGALIES working group. Mr Viddal-Ervik is Product Manager for EmergencyServices in Telenor and a member of the ETSI OCG EMTEL working group, Mr Medland is “BT 112 and 999 Product Manager”. 

What is the current status of implementing location-enhanced emergency call services in Europe and especially in Norway?

Viddal-Ervik: Enhanced location information for emergency services is available today from most mobile operators in Norway. The Norwegian legislation has been updated as from 1st July 2003.

For the fixed network there is still some work to be done. Telenor and a couple of other telcos in Norway do provide such information; others do not. The regulatory body in Norway will put pressure on the telcos that do not provide such information.

Medland: In the UK, both fixed and mobile locations are automatically available over a separate data link to the emergency services as soon as they answer the 112 call. At present, about one third of UK emergency services, or second stage PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points – the editor), use this facility, provided by first stage PSAP, BT, that answers 80% of UK 112/999 calls.

What is yet to be done to make the location-enhanced 112 happen?

Medland: In the UK, more local emergency services need to make use of the information provided by the telecommunication companies. This includes the separate fire, police, ambulance and coastguard services.

Viddal-Ervik: The PSAPs must buy the location information from mobile phones on a commercial basis. Many PSAPs have not done this despite this has been demanded for years. Mobile providers have informed the PSAPs about the availability. The large PSAPs have implemented the service.

Where are the challenges in the implementation process?

Viddal-Ervik: The biggest challenge in Norway is for the PSAPs and telcos to agree upon a standard to be used. Telenor has provided location information in the fixed network for years, and the PSAPs are familiar with this standard. A lot of other telcos in Norway are reluctant to use Telenor’s system and have demanded that another standard should be developed and used. This standard is not complete yet. As a result, some telcos have connected to Telenor’s system for location information, others have no such service at all.

The two major mobile providers in Norway, Telenor and Netcom, have developed two different systems for location information from mobile networks. As a result, the PSAPs must have two different systems to be able to receive location information.

ETSI is working on European standardisation, and a working group called OCG EMTEL is working on user demands for communication to, from and between emergency services. When this group has completed its work, the technical bodies in ETSI will hopefully develop a European standard that will make this a lot easier and less expensive than it is today.

Medland: One major challenge is the number and diversity of organisations that need to be involved. Telcos, of which there are many in the UK, can be encouraged to act by the European Commission and each country’s telecommunication regulator. It is not so straightforward with the emergency services, many of which are partly funded and organised at a local government level.

New technical challenges concern knowing where VoIP emergency calls originate.

How much technical and financial effort is required from the telcos to implement the Commission Recommendation on the location-enhanced 112?

Viddal-Ervik: This issue must be divided in two categories: fixed network and mobile network.

For the fixed network the new e-kom law states that telcos must provide location information to the PSAP free of charge. This means that we are not allowed to charge the PSAP for the development of our databases and location information systems.

For the mobile network this is a commercial service.

Medland: This has been mostly completed in the UK. An interface for the transfer of location information was agreed and implemented and the necessary funds provided. The funding is complex – as well as initial set-up costs there are of course ongoing support costs, too. The telcos find the funds for their part of the developments needed – no government funding is provided to them. There is also a dependency on the way emergency services are organised in each country.

As an example, it cost just over 1 million British Pound to provide the new interface to transfer information from four mobile networks to the first stage PSAP in the UK.

What are the main issues concerning privacy?

Viddal-Ervik: The Norwegian law states that calls made to the emergency services override all privacy. This means that if a caller, for example, has caller ID restrictions or an unlisted number, this will be overridden when calls to the emergency services are made.

By when will the Europe-wide, location-enhanced 112 be a reality?

Viddal-Ervik: I cannot answer this question, but I hope soon.

Medland: The EC is due to survey the situation at the end of 2004.

The interview was conducted by Milon Gupta.

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