Commission calls for study on caller location in mobile networks
The European Commission's Information Society DG has announced a call for tenders for a study on caller location in mobile networks in view of enhancing 112 emergency services. As the technology for location determination in mobile networks becomes widely available, there will be pressures from civil protection authorities and users to forward caller location information automatically to the emergency service providers. The Commission has proposed this enhancement of 112 emergency services in the context of its proposals for the new regulatory framework. An improved level of safety and security cannot, however, be achieved by compromising the principles of privacy. The Commission has proposed data protection and privacy safeguards for the use of location data. An effective introduction of enhanced emergency services - using location data - will need coordination between the parties concerned. The Commission has therefore taken the initiative of setting up a coordination group on access to location information by emergency services (CGALIES) involving the relevant players, in order to clarify the implementation details. There is an urgent need for a study in support of the CGALIES work. This study should examine in detail the implications of technical and market developments (including relevant international standards, market evolution and user perspectives), and develop policy recommendations on the use of location data by emergency services and on caller privacy issues, and recommendations on the corresponding technical implementation path. The time limit for the completion of work will be four months.For further information, please contact: European Commission Information Society Directorate-General Directorate A Attn: Mr Y Domzalski BU 33 6/55 rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200 B-1049 Brussels Tel: +32-2-296 82 09/70 Fax +32-2-296 83 93