Mobile Emergencies (Displaced Emergency Calls)

Buzby

It is worthwhile knowing now, before a formal announcement at the beginning of next year, that ALL K mobile networks have been required to connect 112 (and 999) emergency calls from handsets that HAVE NO SIM.

Currently, 3 of the 5 UK networks have already made the change, and the fourth is due to enable the service by the end of next week - the last network (not named) is expected to make the service available by the end of the year.

What it means for users, is that EVERY GSM or UMTS (2G and 3G) handset will have the ability to connect with BT's Emergency Operator. The change to permit SIMfree calls will allows a useful lifeline in cases of dire emergency, by connecting the handset to the strongest available network - even when there is no SIM card present.

All you need do is remember to ensure the battery is charged. No other calls are allowed, to any other numbers - and that includes the newly instigated 'non-urgent' emergency code too. (shame!).

4$£&*(£$&*(!

Thought this had been the case for years? It certainly worked on Cellnet without a SIM on GSM, so I am going back at least 10 years there.

Jon_01

I don't see how this helps (I might have missed something???). But who walks around with no sim on their phone ?

iwanttosave_2

Jon_01 wrote: »

I don't see how this helps (I might have missed something???). But who walks around with no sim on their phone ?

I think Buzby is more alluding to expired sim cards which Aunt Mabel has in her Nokia 1100 for emergency calls.

Buzby

Nope - phones with expired SIMs were never the issue, as the original network still completed the call. This new arrangements is for SIM-less phones - meaning ANY GSM phone will be able to contact the emergency services.

As for Cellnet allowing it - I can confirm as a customer of theirs since 1984, their GSM service (launched in 1996) no SIM = no call. Without a SIM the user cannot select a network - and still cannot.

LeeSouthEast

As most people have a SIM in their phone... A more accurate explanation is this:

Old system: You are a 3 customer. You have no signal from 3. Dial 999 - nothing happens.

New System: You are a 3 customer. You have no signal from 3. Dial 999 - your phone 'finds' a Vodafone tower. You get connected by Vodafone, despite having no contract with them.

This is GOOD NEWS for all mobile users.

Please note: The emergency authority will NOT be able to call you back if you are an emergency roamer. DO NOT HANG UP until you have been told you may do so. If you do, they will have no way of getting back in touch with you again.

An acceptable trade-off.

Jon_01

If there's no sim in the phone how will it know which network to use ? Or will it just attach to the first one it finds ?

LeeSouthEast

That's the point - now network doesn't matter (for emergency calls). It'll use the first signal it finds.

[Deleted User]

Jon_01 wrote: »

If there's no sim in the phone how will it know which network to use ? Or will it just attach to the first one it finds ?

It picks anything.

4$£&*(£$&*(!

Buzby wrote: »

Nope - phones with expired SIMs were never the issue, as the original network still completed the call. This new arrangements is for SIM-less phones - meaning ANY GSM phone will be able to contact the emergency services.

As for Cellnet allowing it - I can confirm as a customer of theirs since 1984, their GSM service (launched in 1996) no SIM = no call. Without a SIM the user cannot select a network - and still cannot.

In about 1998 a friend was with me walking from a train station as he was returning from buying his first Cellnet phone. It was still boxed, and we came across an accident. He scrambled to pull the phone out of the box, putting the battery in and dialling 999 to summon an ambulance. When we returned home, we looked in the box and found the SIM had not been inserted. Out of curiosity he tried to make another call to any other number, but couldn't.

So 11 years ago or so, it was possible on Cellnet as this happened.

LeeSouthEast

The rules changed in the UK. The GSM standard demanded this to begin with. It was turned off (if I recall) about 2001, ish. Only now is it being turned back on. Things were simpler in the 90's