The Emergency Services Network is an LTE radio communications network under development in the United Kingdom to provide unified communication for British emergency services. It is intended to replace the existing TETRA-based Airwave network in 2026, seven years after the original planned date of 2019.[1][2]

The ESN is intended to offer the following services:[1]

  • ESN Air, to support emergency services aircraft
  • ESN Connect, a SIM-only offer for vehicle modems and data-only devices
  • ESN Direct, a push-to-talk and messaging product for smartphones

As part of the construction of the ESN, almost 300 extra 4G sites will be added to extend the reach of the EE network to more remote parts of the country. The ESN will also serve the London Underground network.[1]

History

In April 2014, the government announced the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) to migrate emergency services to a 4G-based network, to be called the Emergency Services Network. One of the intentions of this program was to switch from the private Airwave network to an existing commercial network. The switch was intended to begin in 2017 and be completed in 2019 before the existing Airwave contract was set to expire.[3]

Implementation of the network was split into three lots. In June 2015, O2 announced they would be pulling out the bidding process for providing mobile services which left only EE in negotiations. At this point Airwave was not listed as bidding for operating any part of the ESMCP.[4] In August 2015 the delivery partner was named as Kellogg Brown & Root.[5] Finally, in December 2015 EE was officially announced as the provider of mobile services and Motorola Solutions was named as the provider of user services.[3]

Delays

In January 2017, the Public Accounts Committee announced that the ESN might not be ready for its December 2019 deadline.[6] In September 2018, it was announced that Airwave's existing contract would be renewed until December 2022.[7][8]

In June 2022, a procurement request was issued for up to three suppliers of TETRA Encryption Algorithm 2 radio devices, and other maintenance services.[2] As of 2022, the ESN is now expected to start operations from 2026.[2]

ESN Beta

ESN Beta is a beta test network intended as a forerunner to the ESN. It is not intended to be used for mission critical operations.[1] This is to be followed by ESN Version 1.0, the first fielded version of the ESN service.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Emergency Services Network: overview". GOV.UK. 14 April 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  2. 1 2 3 Clark, Lindsay (9 June 2022). "UK police to spend tens of millions on legacy comms network kit". The Register. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Emergency services network". gov.uk. 14 December 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  4. ↑ "Emergency network plans questioned". BBC News. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  5. ↑ Penning, Mike (27 August 2015). "First contract for new emergency services network awarded". gov.uk. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  6. ↑ "Emergency services' radio replacement delays 'could cost millions'". BBC News. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  7. ↑ "Motorola Solutions Reaches Agreement with UK Home Office to Implement ESN Phased Approach and Extend Airwave Network". Motorola Solutions. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "Huawei's kit removed from emergency services 4G network". BBC News. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "ESN exclusive: in sight of the finishing line". Critical Communications Today. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
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