Emergency telephone calls: changes to the regulations
Biel-Bienne, 13.07.2005 - The regulations for telephone calls to emergency numbers such as 112, 117, 118, 144 and 1414 have been amended. In future, when emergency numbers are called using mobile telephone networks, the alarm centres will be informed of the caller's location. This will enable the alarm centres to organise help more rapidly and in a more targeted way. In the case of emergency calls via the internet, providers will initially have to guarantee identification of the location only for specific connections – until the technology permits comprehensive localisation. However, internet telephone providers must expressly inform subscribers that under certain circumstances emergency calls may go to the wrong emergency call centres or the caller's location may not be identified correctly. A further change concerns the fees for licences for broadband wireless services such as WiMAX.
By amending the implementing decrees of the Law on Telecommunications (LTC), The Federal Council and the Federal Office of Communications wish to adapt the regulations for telephone calls to emergency numbers to technical developments.
Emergency calls via mobile telephone networks
Mobile telephone providers must introduce identification of the location of emergency calls. The service is initially limited to indicating the radio cell via which the emergency call is made. This may have a diameter of 50 m in urban areas or up to several kilometres in rural areas. This will enable the alarm centres to determine more rapidly the location of a person who is in an emergency situation and is calling using a mobile telephone. Localisation will work even if caller ID suppression is activated. Mobile telephone providers must introduce this service within one year for GSM networks and within two years for UMTS networks. A corresponding regulation in the OFCOM regulations entered into force on 1 July 2005.
Emergency calls via the internet
Internet telephony (VoIP; Voice over Internet Protocol) is also becoming more significant in Switzerland. This service makes it possible to make telephone calls not only on a predetermined telephone connection but on any internet connection.
Today, in the case of internet telephony, access to the geographically competent emergency call centres (e.g. police, fire fighting services and ambulance numbers) is guaranteed only for calls which are made from the location specified in the subscription agreement. The same applies to determination of the caller's location by emergency call centres. The Federal Council is taking this limitation into account by means of a change to the Decree on Telecommunications Services which will apply only until the technology permits comprehensive emergency call access with localisation. At the same time, providers must ensure that subscribers are informed of the limitations and explicitly confirm that they are aware of them. The Federal Office of Communications will be adapting the technical configuration of emergency call access in contact with the telecommunication services providers and the representatives of the emergency call centres on an ongoing basis. These regulations enter into force on 1 August 2005.
Internet telephony
In this context, internet telephony is defined as: Voice transmission services which are provided using Swiss telephone numbers and which permit telephone calls to be both made and received. Other voice transmission services such as "Skype", for example, do not count as internet telephony, as they are not based on Swiss telephone numbers and users cannot be called from conventional telephone connections.
Other changes to the LTC implementing decrees
The revised decree also lays down individual provisions in connection with consumer protection for value-added services (090x numbers).
In addition, the Federal Council has adapted the method for calculating the annual fees for WLL radio licences to current frequency management requirements and has also extended the corresponding provision to radio licences for broadband wireless access (e.g. WiMAX). This therefore lays the foundations in tax law for the invitation to tender for licences envisaged by the Federal Communications Commission (ComCom).
Address for enquiries
Media service OFCOM, 032 327 55 50
Publisher
Federal Office of Communications
http://www.ofcom.admin.ch
