{{Short description|LTE radio network under development in the United Kingdom}} The '''Emergency Services Network''' is an [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] radio communications network under development in the [[United Kingdom]] to provide unified communication for British emergency services. It is intended to replace the existing [[Terrestrial Trunked Radio|TETRA]]-based [[Airwave Solutions|Airwave]] network in 2026, seven years after the original planned date of 2019,<ref name=gov.uk-2022>{{Cite web |date=14 April 2022 |title=Emergency Services Network: overview |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-emergency-services-mobile-communications-programme/emergency-services-network |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728073608/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-emergency-services-mobile-communications-programme/emergency-services-network |archive-date=2022-07-28 |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref name="thereg-20220609" /> though this may be delayed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Progress with delivering the Emergency Services Network |url=https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/progress-with-delivering-the-emergency-services-network/?nab=2 |website=National Audit Office |access-date=23 March 2025 |date=8 March 2023}}</ref>

The ESN is intended to offer the following services:<ref name=gov.uk-2022/>

* ESN Air, to support emergency services aircraft * ESN Connect, a [[SIM-only]] offer for vehicle modems and data-only devices * ESN Direct, a [[push-to-talk]] and messaging product for smartphones

As part of the construction of the ESN, almost 300 extra 4G sites will be added to extend the reach of the EE network to more remote parts of the country. The ESN will also serve the [[London Underground]] network.<ref name=gov.uk-2022/>

== History == In April 2014, the government announced the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) to migrate emergency services to a 4G-based network, to be called the Emergency Services Network. One of the intentions of this program was to switch from the private Airwave network to an existing commercial network. The switch was intended to begin in 2017 and be completed in 2019 before the existing Airwave contract was set to expire.<ref name="gov-uk-esn">{{cite web |title=Emergency services network |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-emergency-services-mobile-communications-programme/emergency-services-network |website=[[gov.uk]] |access-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129230700/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-emergency-services-mobile-communications-programme/emergency-services-network |archive-date=29 January 2017 |date=14 December 2015}}</ref>

Implementation of the network was split into three lots. In June 2015, [[O2 (UK)|O2]] announced they would be pulling out the bidding process for providing mobile services which left only [[EE Limited|EE]] in negotiations. At this point Airwave was not listed as bidding for operating any part of the ESMCP.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emergency network plans questioned |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33076526 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 December 2018 |date=10 June 2015}}</ref> In August 2015 the delivery partner was named as [[KBR (Company)|Kellogg Brown & Root]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Penning |first1=Mike |title=First contract for new emergency services network awarded |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-contract-for-new-emergency-services-network-awarded |website=[[gov.uk]] |access-date=28 December 2018 |date=27 August 2015}}</ref> Finally, in December 2015 [[EE Limited|EE]] was officially announced as the provider of mobile services and [[Motorola Solutions]] was named as the provider of user services.<ref name="gov-uk-esn" />

In November 2022, [[Motorola Solutions]] announced that it was planning to end its ESN contract early. <ref>{{cite web |title=Motorola plots Emergency Services Network exit|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252526991/Motorola-plots-Emergency-Services-Network-exit |website=[[ComputerWeekly.com]] |access-date=29 April 2025| date=7 November 2022}}</ref>

In August 2024, [[BT Group|BT]] and its mobile subsidiary [[EE Limited|EE]] entered a new contract with the Home Office worth £1.85bn to provide mobile services for 7.25 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=BT/EE win Emergency Services Network contract|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366599992/BT-EE-win-emergency-services-network-contract |website=[[ComputerWeekly.com]] |access-date=29 April 2025|date=5 August 2024}}</ref> In January 2025, the [[Home Office]] announced that [[IBM]] would be taking over the delivery of user services.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home Office and IBM to partner on Emergency Services Network|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-office-and-ibm-to-partner-on-emergency-services-network |website=[[gov.uk]] |access-date=29 April 2025| date=15 January 2025}}</ref>

== Delays == In January 2017, the [[Public Accounts Committee (United Kingdom)|Public Accounts Committee]] announced that the ESN might not be ready for its December 2019 deadline.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emergency services' radio replacement delays 'could cost millions' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38739749 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 December 2018 |date=25 January 2017}}</ref> In September 2018, it was announced that Airwave's existing contract would be renewed until December 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Motorola Solutions Reaches Agreement with UK Home Office to Implement ESN Phased Approach and Extend Airwave Network |url=https://newsroom.motorolasolutions.com/news/motorola-solutions-reaches-agreement-with-uk-home-office-to-implement-esn-phased-approach-and-extend-airwave-network.htm |website=[[Motorola Solutions]] |access-date=28 December 2018 |date=21 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Huawei's kit removed from emergency services 4G network |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46672550 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 December 2018 |date=24 December 2018}}</ref>

In June 2022, a procurement request was issued for up to three suppliers of TETRA Encryption Algorithm 2 radio devices, and other maintenance services.<ref name=thereg-20220609>{{cite news |url=https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/09/uk_police_legacy_airwave_bill/?td=rt-3a |title=UK police to spend tens of millions on legacy comms network kit |last=Clark |first=Lindsay |website=The Register |date=9 June 2022 |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref> As of 2022, the ESN is now expected to start operations from 2026.<ref name="thereg-20220609" />

== ESN Beta == ESN Beta is a beta test network intended as a forerunner to the ESN. It is not intended to be used for mission-critical operations.<ref name="gov.uk-2022" /> This is to be followed by ESN Version 1.0, the first fielded version of the ESN service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESN exclusive: in sight of the finishing line |url=https://www.criticalcomms.com/features/esn-exclusive-in-sight-of-the-finishing-line |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Critical Communications Today}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

[[Category:Public safety networks]] [[Category:Telecommunications in the United Kingdom]]