Emergency communication systems are undergoing a major transformation driven by the evolution of communication technologies and the increasing digitalization of society.
For decades, emergency services in Europe have relied primarily on the 112 emergency number, based on traditional voice calls. While this system has proven highly effective, new communication technologies and the widespread use of smartphones have changed the way citizens interact with emergency services.
In this context, Next Generation 112 (NG112) has emerged as the next step in the evolution of emergency communication systems.
NG112 introduces IP-based architectures that allow emergency call centers to manage multiple communication channels beyond traditional voice calls.
The goal is to enable Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and emergency coordination centers to access more information during incidents and improve their response capabilities.
What is NG112
NG112 is a technological architecture designed to modernize emergency communication systems and adapt them to digital communication environments.
While traditional emergency systems were primarily designed to handle voice calls, NG112 allows the integration of new communication channels such as:
- emergency video calls
- real-time text communication
- transmission of images and video
- data exchange from connected devices
- advanced user location services
These capabilities enhance situational awareness and allow for more efficient emergency response operations.
IP-based architecture
One of the most important changes introduced by NG112 is the transition from traditional telecommunications infrastructures to IP-based communication architectures.
This enables the integration of multiple communication technologies within a unified infrastructure and improves interoperability between systems.
NG112 architectures typically rely on technologies such as:
- IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem)
- WebRTC
- Real-Time Text (RTT)
- SIP communication protocols
- ESInet (Emergency Services IP Network)
These technologies allow emergency service platforms to support multimedia communications.
Improved situational awareness
NG112 enhances the information available to emergency operators during incident management.
In traditional emergency systems, operators rely mainly on verbal information provided by calling citizens.
NG112, however, allows operators to receive additional data such as images, video, or location information.
For example, citizens can send photos or live video from the scene, helping operators better understand the situation before dispatching resources.
Accessibility improvements
NG112 also improves accessibility to emergency services.
Real-Time Text (RTT) communication allows people with hearing or speech disabilities to communicate with emergency services.
Video communication can also enable interaction with sign language interpreters.
These capabilities help make emergency services more inclusive.
Interoperability across Europe
NG112 also supports interoperability between emergency communication systems in different European countries.
Standardized architectures and communication protocols facilitate cooperation among emergency services in cross-border situations.
The role of communication platforms
Implementing NG112 requires emergency centers to deploy communication platforms capable of integrating multiple technologies and communication channels.
These platforms enable operators to manage:
- voice calls
- video calls
- real-time messaging
- multimedia communications
- integrations with emergency applications
Adopting these platforms allows emergency services to modernize their communication infrastructures and prepare for future emergency communication technologies.