Expression of Interest: Hot House Event - Enhancing Coverage and Resilience in the emergency services communication

The UK Space Agency (UKSA), on behalf of the Home Office's Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) to participate in a forthcoming Workshop event at explore how existing and emerging technology (including satellite-enabled solutions) could augment the Emergency Services Network (ESN). UKSA and ESMCP are seeking ways to further enhance ESN coverage in remote areas and locations which are challenging to service using standard transmission methods, including exploring the role of satellite connectivity to provide additional reach and resilience.

About UKSA

The UKSA, through its Unlocking Space for Government (USG) programme, is working to harness the UK's space-enabled capabilities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government services and position government to be a proactive, intelligent anchor customer for the space sector. This workshop will bring together government, industry, and specialist stakeholders to identify and shape potential solutions that could extend coverage and resilience in some of Britain's most challenging locations.

About ESN

The Emergency Services Network (ESN) is a government project managed by the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) in the Home Office. ESN will replace Airwave, the current critical communications system used by the emergency services across Great Britain. ESN will use 4G/5G mobile phone signals to enable emergency services access to mission critical voice and data communications, giving first responders immediate access to life-saving data, images and information in live situations and emergencies on the frontline.

ESN investment also delivers mobile network coverage improvements, that allow 999 calls to be made from any 4G enabled mobile device in remote and rural parts of Great Britain where it was not previously possible.

Users of ESN include the 3 Emergency Services (3ES), and other organisations that depend on critical communications, and an estimated 300,000 frontline emergency service users who will depend on ESN; using handheld devices or operating equipment in 45,000 vehicles, over 90 aircraft and 200 control rooms.

ESN will provide additional solutions to enhance coverage and enable ESMCP to leverage advances in the Satcom innovations and positively disruptive capabilities to deliver enhanced capability for the life of the service.