eCall PSAPs Expert Group decided next steps to accelerate eCall implementation

Creation date: 05 March 2009

The eCall PSAPs Expert Group had two fruitful meetings in 2008, which discussed the state of the art of the eCall activities in the Member States (MS), the progress made regarding standardisation issues and the next steps to be taken to accelerate the eCall deployment and implementation.

Discussions focused on the progresses made in the standardisation process and technical specifications that will be approved beginning of 2009 in order to enable MS to upgrade the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) before starting their testing plans.

Concerning the different  state of the art eCall implementation plans in the European countries , in some countries the access to PSAPs will be direct, the PSAPs are well equipped and are only waiting for final standards approval to start the implementation plans, in some others, PSAPs need to be completely restructured to include eCall. The group also discussed common positions regarding standardisation.

Another topic discussed during these meetings was the proposal for a European eCall Implementation platform. The concept proposed was a 10-step voluntary approach aiming at establishing national eCall platforms and a European eCall Roll-out Platform to overcome current roadblocks such as  delay in standardisation and encourage the signature of remaining MS, namely the UK and France. Most of the PSAPs expressed their support for the platform proposal, highlighting the fact that the establishment of national platforms and clusters is a good initiative especially if the clusters could gather together those MS which have similar PSAP infrastructures.

The eCall PSAPs Expert Group proved its effectiveness to address problems related to PSAPs and achieve consensus. The PSAPs Expert Group agreed to remain on stand-by situation, as most of the activities will be taken over by the European eCall Implementation Platform. Further participation is required and Member States are encouraged to nominate representatives to the Platform to keep the momentum going into 2009 and beyond.