Emergency calls failing between the first Public Safety Answering Point and the Emergency Authority

Emergency calls placed within the UK network are answered, in the first instance, by a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to ascertain which Emergency Service is required. Calls are then passed onto the relevant Emergency Authority (fire, police, etc.). Calls between the first PSAP and the Emergency Authority are given priority treatment in UK networks to ensure their delivery during periods of congestion.

It has come to the attention of the NICC EmLoc Task Group that there are network configurations that lead to the emergency call prioritisation being lost or ignored when the call routes between the first PSAP and the Emergency Authority. This has resulted in these calls failing. As an example, terminating networks or 3rd parties that offer call enrichment services to Emergency Authorities may have interconnects with UK transit networks that do not support priority for emergency calls.

Networks or third parties offering such call enrichment services MUST ensure that all of their interconnecting networks support prioritisation for emergency traffic.

Under the Ofcom General Conditions of Entitlement C.6.6, all UK transit networks must support priority for emergency calls, including those calls between the PSAP and the Emergency Authority.

Organisations, especially Communication and Service Providers requiring further information should contact the NICC technical secretary? – [email protected]

For more information on NICC or to join NICC, please visit the NICC web site or contact the NICC technical secretary to be involved – [email protected]