The 112 Emergency Service – More Accurate Location Tracking

During the last year, the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security (MHAS) worked hand in hand with emergency stakeholders, communication service providers and the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) to set-up a new 112 system, which was launched on the 23rd March 2018.

The aim was to implement a more effective and robust 112 system that would interconnect all emergency services (ambulance, police and civil protection), as well as improve on the emergency call location details.

The location of the 112 caller is of paramount importance to emergency aiders. In the past, unless prompted by the 112 caller, emergency stakeholders had to approach service providers, asking for the location information. The new 112 system is much more efficient in terms of location tracking. When people call 112, the new system automatically retrieves the location information from the respective service providers through mobile cell coordinates or by employing Advanced Mobile Location (AML) tracking solutions.

AML is a new high accuracy technology inbuilt within a mobile phone. When a 112 call is dialled from an AML-enabled smartphone, the phone automatically activates its location service for 20 seconds so as to determine its position via GPS or Wifi. This information is then automatically sent, via a text message, to the local PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point). AML only retrieves the caller location when a call to 112 is made and the sole destination of the location information is the PSAP.

Google’s Emergency Location Services has been implemented in Malta’s new 112 system. Apple’s AML will also be implemented in the system soon. Apple and Google phones currently dominate the mobile market. Subsequently, almost all Maltese citizens will benefit from extremely precise location emergency tracking services.

Apart from acting as a mediator between MHAS and the electronic communications service providers, the MCA has been of great assistance to MHAS in the setup of AML. The MCA liaised with Google on behalf of the Ministry. It also provided technical advice when needed. The Authority will, in the future, continue to support MHAS and the service providers so as to ensure effective functioning of the 112 system.