As you certainly know, an eCall is identified in the mobile network thanks to the “eCall flag”, which indicates that the call is not an usual 112 emergency call but an “eCall”. That way, it can be routed accordingly.

  1. PROBLEM

EENA recently learnt that several countries have faced problems with regular 112 calls being routed as eCalls: it seems that some mobile phones activate the eCall flag when a 112 emergency call is made. Consequently, the call is routed as an eCall and it ends at the eCall modem of the 112 PSAP. In case the country has chosen to have a different PSAP handling eCalls, some 112 calls end in the eCall PSAP.

This may be an important problem from 1 October, which is the deadline for EU countries to activate eCall from the emergency services’ side. Citizens in distress making a 112 call from their mobile phone may hear “modem sounds”, think there is a technical issue and most probably hang-up!

  1. SOLUTIONS:
  • Interpretation of the eCall flag: the Portuguese authorities have solved the problem developing the different combinations of bits in the eCall flag and routing the call as eCall or as 112 call depending on the combination (see attached presentation).
  • Modem mode: the eCall modem can be configured in different modes. In case the mode is changed, the caller will be routed to the eCall modem but will not hear the “modem sounds” but 5 seconds of silent. After 5 seconds, the call will be routed to the 112 call-taker (see attached document)
  1. WEBINAR:

Both solutions will be presented on a webinar organised by EENA on the 26 September at 2:30 pm CEST (one hour max).

Emergency Services/public authorities in charge of eCall/112 handling as well as MNOs and any other eCall stakeholders are invited to attend this webinar.

Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/188316725

You can also dial in using your phone.

Access Code: 188-316-725

More phone numbers

Belgium: +32 (0) 28 93 7001
Australia: +61 2 8355 1030
Austria: +43 7 2088 1033
Canada: +1 (647) 497-9371
Denmark: +45 69 91 89 33
Finland: +358 (0) 942 41 5770
France: +33 (0) 170 950 585
Germany: +49 (0) 692 5736 7208
Ireland: +353 (0) 19 030 050
Italy: +39 0 693 38 75 50
Netherlands: +31 (0) 208 080 208
New Zealand: +64 9 925 0481
Norway: +47 21 54 82 21
Spain: +34 911 82 9890
Sweden: +46 (0) 853 527 817
Switzerland: +41 (0) 435 0167 65
United Kingdom: +44 (0) 20 3713 5010
United States: +1 (646) 749-3117

The post eCall flag issue: problem & solutions | Webinar on 26 September- New Conference Bridge Details appeared first on I_HeERO.