The Electronic Communications and Wireless Telegraphy (Amendment and Saving Provision) Regulations 2026
Updated technical standards for emergency call centres to enable 4G and 5G vehicle eCall functionality while extending support for legacy standards until 2031.
These Regulations update the technical requirements for emergency call handling systems to support 4G and 5G vehicle emergency calls (eCall).
They direct public safety answering points to adopt new international standards for packet-switched networks and IP Multimedia Subsystems while maintaining compatibility with older standards during a transition period.
The requirements apply to all emergency response centers in the United Kingdom that receive automated vehicle emergency alerts.
Arguments For
The instrument states that these amendments are necessary to include Next Generation (4G/5G) eCall technical standards within the existing regulatory framework.
The explanatory note indicates that the transition is required to ensure that public safety answering points (PSAPs) are equipped to handle emergency calls originating from modern in-vehicle equipment.
Proponents argue that the saving provision allows for a managed transition by maintaining existing standards until 2G networks are expected to cease operation.
The government asserts that a full impact assessment is unnecessary because net costs to the public and private sectors are estimated to be less than £10 million annually.
Arguments Against
Technical experts have noted that the 2031 deadline for retiring older standards depends on the actual decommissioning schedules of mobile network operators, which may vary.
Emergency service providers may face implementation costs related to upgrading software and hardware to meet the five new technical standards cited in the regulations.
Small-scale public safety answering points may find the dual-standard requirement (maintaining legacy support while implementing 4G/5G) administratively complex over the four-year transition period.
Citation, commencement and extent
- 1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Electronic Communications and Wireless Telegraphy (Amendment and Saving Provision) Regulations 2026.
- (2) These Regulations come into force on 31st March 2027.
- (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations and sets the commencement date for the new requirements as 31 March 2027.
It also confirms that the rules apply uniformly across all four nations of the United Kingdom.
Interpretation
- In these Regulations-
"the eCall regulation" means Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 305/2013 of 26 November 2012 supplementing Directive 2010/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the harmonised provision for an interoperable EU-wide eCall(2).
"public safety answering point" has the same meaning as in Article 2(b) of the eCall regulation(3).
This section defines the primary legal documents and technical terms used throughout the instrument.
It identifies the specific EU-derived regulation being amended and clarifies that a 'public safety answering point' refers to the emergency call centres responsible for receiving vehicle alerts.
Amendment of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 305/2013
3.-(1) The eCall regulation is amended as follows.
(2) In Article 3 (eCall PSAP requirements), in paragraph 1, for "and 'Intelligent transport systems - eSafety - eCall High Level Application Requirements (HLAP)' (EN 16062)" substitute ", 'Intelligent transport systems - ESafety - ECall end to end conformance testing' (EN 16454:2023)(4), 'Intelligent transport systems - eSafety - eCall High level application protocols (HLAP) using IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) over packet switched networks' (EN 17184:2024)(5), 'Intelligent transport systems - ESafety - ECall end to end conformance testing for IMS packet switched based systems' (EN 17240:2024)(6), 'Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); LTE; IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) emergency sessions' (ETSI TS 123 167 V17.2.0)(7), 'LTE; General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enhancements for Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) access' (ETSI TS 123 401 V19.6.0)(8) and '5G; System architecture for the 5G System (5GS)' (ETSI TS 123 501 V19.8.0)(9)".
This section replaces the previous 2G/3G technical standards with a suite of new standards for Next Generation eCall.
It mandates that emergency call centres use updated protocols for 4G (LTE) and 5G networks, including specific requirements for end-to-end testing and IP-based communication.
These changes ensure that newer vehicles equipped with advanced telecommunications can successfully transmit emergency data to first responders.
Saving Provision
- Notwithstanding the amendments made by regulation 3, Article 3(1) of the eCall regulation continues to apply, with respect to the standard 'Intelligent transport systems - eSafety - eCall High Level Application Requirements (HLAP)' (EN 16062)(10), as that Article had effect immediately before 31st March 2027, in relation to any eCall public safety answering point, until the end of 31st March 2031.
This section permits emergency call centres to continue using the older EN 16062 standard alongside the new ones until 31 March 2031.
This transitional arrangement ensures that older vehicles still using 2G or 3G hardware remain compatible with emergency services until those older mobile networks are fully decommissioned.
After this date, the legal requirement to support the older standard expires.
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