The EPISECC project, launched in June 2014, aims to develop a common “European Information Space”, which would ultimately become the key element in a future integrated pan-European crisis and disaster response capacity. One of the main purposes of the EPISECC approach is improving interoperability at all levels and, as such, the project focuses on establishing interoperability at both physical (network) and syntactical (automated information exchange) level.

This summer much work went into remodelling the EPISECC project website. The new version is currently up and running and accessible at www.episecc.eu. The new website is more user-friendly and visually appealing than before. Website visitors have all the main information about the project at their fingertips, including an entirely new “Results” section, which presents the EPISECC publications, presentations, and public deliverables. The new version of the website also includes an embedded Twitter feed and direct links to the EPISECC social media, making it much easier to follow the EPISECC project as it develops. Last but not least, the new project website also provides more information about the EPISECC work plan and methodology.

The role of PSCE in the EPISECC project is linked to identifying user needs. Due to its broad membership base, which includes end-users, research institutes and industrial stakeholders, PSCE has been tasked with obtaining the feedback of these groups on issues relevant to the project. PSCE will also assist in disseminating the results of the EPISECC project.

15 European countries are committed to work together to establish a common roadmap for future evolution of EU PPDR radio communications via BROADMAP partnership

• The BROADMAP partnership created a proposal to answer to Horizon 2020 DRS-18 call for proposals
• Specifications and transition road mapping of future broadband PPDR radio communication in EU will be available in 2017, if the proposal is agreed by the Horizon 2020 evaluation process

On 26th August, PSCE completed the co-ordination, and submission, of a landmark proposal to Horizon 2020 - BROADMAP.

The proposed BROADMAP project intends to take the first steps towards future co-funded procurement necessary to enable ‘interoperable next generation of broadband radio communication systems for public safety and security’ to enhance interoperability across borders and improve PPDR service to European citizens.

BROADMAP proposes to collect and validate the PPDR (Public Protection and Disaster Relief) organisations’ existing requirements with the aim to establish a core set of specifications and roadmap for procurement to achieve future evolution of EU broadband applications and interoperable radio communication solutions for PPDR.

The BROADMAP partnership comprises 15 potential buyers/end users representing EU Member States and associated countries; 8 of which represent the Ministry within the country responsible for public safety and 7 representing end users and network operators. 48 additional PPDR organisations have signed letters of support for the BROADMAP project, expanding geo-political coverage within 7 additional EU and associated countries and support from stakeholders in the US.

The BROADMAP proposal formation was initiated in 2014 on the request of PSCE’s User Committee members. It took the entire eight months to gather together the strongest team of end users and a delicately balanced strategy to support the future procurement of necessary R&D and innovative products needed to fulfil the validated requirements for broadband interoperable networks for PPDR and critical communications.

The proposal is now in the hands of the Horizon 2020 evaluation process and we expect to hear the results early in 2016. Should we be successful we will be engaging with the broadest team of EU public safety end users ever to formalise requirements, specifications, solutions and roadmaps which will lead towards new interoperable broadband capabilities deployed with an operational expectation within 8-10 years.

PSCE’s next conference will be held in Oxford (UK) on 9th and 10th December 2015, where we will discuss the outcomes of spectrum decisions made at WRC’15, the steps to take to achieve broadband capabilities for PPDR, security and resilience of next generation networks, the potential for 5G, and data protection and privacy issues surround the deluge of information enabled by broadband, as overseen by the pending EU data protection regulation.

David Lund, President of PSCE and coordinator of BROADMAP says: “It’s been a lengthy process but the collective enthusiasm of the partnership is unprecedented. We have a truly motivated and influential team”

Manfred Blaha, Chair of PSCE User Committee says: “BROADMAP is a milestone on the broad way for PPDR organisations to get a broadband network. It is not only to follow technological trends for a new gadget. It is about giving First Responders some data-rich communications tool for their live-saving duty. It is about serving our citizens best possible.”

Heikki Riippa, The Police Board, Finland says: “PPDR operational way of working is in transition throughout Europe – high speed wireless connectivity is mandatory to address the pressure from the changing society towards – BROADMAP partnership is key to address this evolution”

PSCE Secretariat is pleased to inform you that our upcoming conference in Oxford will also host a dedicated Poster Session. In case you are a partner of a relevant EU-funded project or you simply wish to exhibit related solutions or concepts through the Poster Session, you are invited to send your inquiry before 20 November 2015 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The price of the exhibition is 150 EUR per poster and only registered participants may use this opportunity. All the exhibited posters will be included in the final version of the agenda as well as in the conference report.

The EMYNOS project, launched in September 2015, joins 11 organisations across Europe that will work to improve current technologies and design a Next Generation emergency platform enabling communications from citizens to , emergency call centre.

On the 1st September 2015, the new EU-funded project EMYNOS (nExt generation eMergencY commuNicatiOnS) was launched. Led by Fraunhofer Fokus, Berlin , Germany, the project gathers a consortium of eleven different organisations, including telecom/satellite operators, VoIP providers, eCall testers, and end users. This mixture ensures that the consortium comes with the required expertise to achieve the project goals. . The organisations forming the EMYNOS project consortium are:

• Fraunhofer Fokus (Germany; project coordinator)
• Turksat (Turkey)
• Technological Educational Institute of Crete (Greece, Technical Manager)
• Navcert GmbH (Germany)
• Public Safety Communications Europe (Belgium)
• Serviciul de Telecomunicatii Speciale (Romania)
• VOZTELECOM Sistemas (Spain)
• Harpo Sp.z.o.o (Poland)
• Hellenic Open University (Greece)
• Osterreichisches Rotes Kreuz (Austria)
• MCS Datalabs (Germany)

EMYNOS recognises that the current technologies for emergency systems and 112 services are becoming outdated and can no longer match the everyday needs of European citizens. Some of the related limitations of the current technologies are partial media support, a lack of integration of social media, and the use of an analogue modem for providing eCall services with limited data amount. As most operators have started migrating towards broadband IP-based infrastructures few years ago, current emergency systems also need to be upgraded and adapted in order to fulfil the regulatory requirements in terms of Next Generation emergency services.

To this end, EMYNOS seeks to design and implement a Next Generation platform, capable of accommodating rich-media emergency calls that combine voice, text, and video, thus constituting a powerful tool for coordinating communication among citizens, call centres and first responders.

Additionally, issues such as call routing/redirection to the closest available call centre, retrieval of the caller location, hoax calls prevention, support for people with disabilities, and integration of social media will be addressed throughout the course of the project. Some emphasis will also be placed on the new eCall system.

The EMYNOS project will run for two and a half years, until 1st March 2018.

For more information please contact the leader of EMYNOS dissemination activities PSCE (Public Safety Communications Europe) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The project website is available here: www.emynos.eu