New system to improve emergency calls localization
Despite technological breakthroughs in the field of telecommunications during recent years, accurately locating the source of emergency calls remains a challenge. However, Google alongside the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) have worked together to tackle this issue by adopting a system that will revolutionize location pinging.
The new system is called Advanced Mobile Location (AML) and was developed in the UK. The purpose of AML is to make smartphones recognize when emergency calls are being made and turn on GNSS (global navigation satellite system) and Wi-Fi.
With AML, the smartphone will then automatically send a text message to emergency services, with detailed information about the location of the caller. AML is up to 4,000 times more accurate than the current systems in use.
According to EU legislation for telecoms, member states are already required to have methods in place to improve the localization of emergency calls. However, the current location accuracy average in Europe is around two kilometers (1.24 miles), which is not exactly helpful when a fast and effective response is needed.
The EU is currently working on the EECC (European Electronic Communications Code), a legislative proposal on telecommunications. In general, the AML has been welcomed in Brussels and there are good prospects that it will be part of the EECC. According to a new study, this new system would not only improve EU citizens' safety but would also save money. It is estimated that AML could save up to 7,500 lives and 95 billion euros in the next 10 years.