Geoffrey Caesar, Solicitor

The Emergency Services Network (ESN) is a new communications network for emergency services in Great Britain, which will replace the current Airwave system during the mid-2020s.

ESN will run on a commercial 4G network provided by EE, enabling fast, secure and reliable voice, video and data communications for the emergency services. ESN will also allow the emergency services to access and share vital information in real-time, such as live video feeds, images, maps and databases. This will improve their operational efficiency, collaboration and safety and enhance their response to emergencies and major incidents.

ESN is being delivered by the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) in the Home Office in partnership with EE and a new supplier that will replace Motorola Solutions (more on this below). The Programme also works closely with emergency services users, who include fire and rescue, police and ambulance services, and other organisations such as local authorities, utility services, and inshore rescue.

Over 300,000 frontline emergency service users will depend on ESN, using handheld devices or operating equipment in 45,000 vehicles, over 90 aircraft, and over 100 control rooms.

The Programme was launched in 2011 to replace Airwave by the end of 2019. However, due to technical challenges and delays, the Programme underwent a reset in 2019 and developed a new delivery approach based on incremental releases of ESN capabilities. The Programme also extended the contracts with EE and Motorola Solutions until December 2024 to ensure continuity of service. 

Replacing Motorola

In November 2021, Motorola Solutions announced that it would leave ESN to avoid being forced by the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) to sell Airwave. The CMA had provisionally estimated that Motorola Solutions could make super-normal profits of £1.1 billion from Airwave between 2020 and 2026. In December 2022, the Home Office agreed to end the contract with Motorola Solutions early and pay it £45 million; this included £27 million to settle disputes.

The Home Office is looking for a new supplier to replace Motorola Solutions and provide ESN’s critical software and systems. The new supplier will be responsible for delivering ESN Push-to-Talk (PTT), which will provide:

• Group voice communication on handheld and vehicle devices.
• ESN Airwave Interoperability Solution (EAIS) will enable communication between ESN and Airwave users.
• ESN Location Services will provide accurate location information for users and assets.

The Home Office expects to award the new contract in the second half 2024.

Benefits of ESN

ESN is expected to bring significant benefits to the emergency services and the public, such as:

• Improved 4G network coverage, allowing 999 calls to be made from any 4G enabled mobile phone in some of the most remote and rural areas of Great Britain where it was not previously possible.
• Enhanced communication between the emergency services, enabling them to share vital data, images and expertise quickly and securely from the frontline when needed most.
• A modern and flexible platform that can support a range of applications and devices tailored to the operational needs of the emergency services.
• Cost savings of around £200 million per year once ESN is fully operational, compared to Airwave.

Delivery Partners

ESN is being delivered in partnership with EE, which is building and operating the network infrastructure, and whichever company replaces Motorola Solutions, to provide the software for ESN.

EE has added 700 masts to their existing network of 19,000 masts to bolster coverage for ESN and the Home Office is also building 292 additional masts to extend the network coverage in some of the most remote and rural areas of Great Britain. These sites are known as the Extended Area Service (EAS).

Challenges

The delivery of ESN has faced several challenges and delays since its inception in 2013. The original plan was to switch off Airwave by 2019, but this was revised to 2022 after a review by the National Audit Office in 2018. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the testing and rollout of ESN, as well as the availability of resources and suppliers.

In 2021, the Home Office announced it would re-procure the User Services contract with Motorola Solutions, which would expire in 2024, through a competitive dialogue process. This contract covers the software and associated services to enable users to access ESN.

Progress

ESN is still under development and testing, with some key milestones achieved and others pending. Some of the achievements include:

• Completing the build of EAS sites across Scotland, Wales and England, with 292 sites now live and providing coverage for ESN.
• Completing the migration of over 100 Airwave sites to ESN in London as part of a pilot project with the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.
• A new ESN Direct 2 (D2) will be launched, allowing users to make group calls over ESN using their existing Airwave radios.
• Developing a new version of ESN Connect allows users to access data services over ESN using a SIM card in their smartphone or tablet.
• Testing ESN Prime devices, specially designed smartphones that can access ESN and Airwave services.

Some of the pending milestones include:

• Completing the testing and assurance of ESN Prime devices with all emergency services.
• Completing the testing and assurance of ESN Enhanced Push-To-Talk (EPTT) allows users to make group calls over ESN using their smartphones or tablets.
• Testing and ensuring ESN Secure Data Access (SDA), which allows users to access secure data applications over ESN using their smartphones or tablets, is completed.
• Testing and ensuring the ESN Coverage Assurance Tool (CAT), which allows users to check and report on network coverage in their area, is being completed.
• Completing the testing and assurance of ESN Location-Based Services (LBS) allows users to track and share their location over ESN using their devices.

The Programme is preparing for these capabilities’ operational trials with selected user organisations across Great Britain. The trials will test ESN’s functionality, performance and reliability in various scenarios and environments. The feedback from the trials will inform further enhancements and refinements of ESN before it is rolled out nationally.

The timeline for the entire delivery and transition to ESN will depend on the outcome of the User Services procurement process (the contract to replace Motorola), which is expected to conclude in the second half of 2024. 

Once the Programme expects to complete the delivery of these capabilities in the mid-2020s, it will work with the user organisations (police, fire, ambulance and other users of ESN) to plan and execute their transition from Airwave to ESN. The transition will be done in a phased manner based on geographical areas and user groups. The Programme aims to complete the transition by the mid-2020s, when Airwave will be switched off.

ESN is a complex and ambitious programme that will transform how emergency services communicate and operate. It will provide them with a modern, resilient and flexible communications network that will support them in protecting the public and saving lives.

My role in ESN

I have provided consultancy services to the Home Office, alongside my broader solicitor’s practice, since February 2016. As such, I have a deep insight into ESN and have gained extensive legal and commercial telecommunications experience.

While I can’t write in detail about my role in ESN, as it relates to commercially sensitive and legally privileged matters, I can provide information about the Programme, which is in the public domain. I have written this blog post and will write others on ESN to provide insight into the Programme and my experience in telecommunications.

If you require legal or commercial telecom services, please get in touch with me using the enquiry form on gcaesar.com.