politics
Domestic policy
New roaming agreement strengthens mobile connectivity for Irish emergency services
Government ministers have welcomed a new national roaming arrangement designed to bolster mobile communications for frontline agencies across Ireland. The initiative allows compatible emergency devices to access any major network provider, significantly enhancing operational resilience during critical incidents.
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⏱️ 2 min read
Government ministers have welcomed a new national roaming arrangement that will strengthen mobile communications for Ireland's emergency services. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer has put in place a national roaming agreement across all three mobile network operators—eir, Three Ireland, and Vodafone—for mission-critical communications used by first responders. This new arrangement means that compatible devices and applications used by frontline personnel can connect to whichever participating mobile network is available, rather than relying on a single operator, providing vital resilience if disruption occurs.
The initiative will support key organisations including An Garda Síochána, the fire services, the National Ambulance Service, and Civil Defence. While Ireland's emergency services have relied for over two decades on the TETRA digital radio system for voice communications, that network was never designed to carry the live video, mapping, and data that underpin modern emergency response. This roaming capability forms part of a wider government programme to modernise emergency communications and support the transition to next-generation mobile broadband technology.
Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships, Minister Jack Chambers noted that the upgrade will help ensure emergency personnel maintain access to critical information regardless of location. Minister of State Frank Feighan added that the agreement is the result of sustained engagements between the OGCIO, mobile operators, and mobile core partner Druid Software, and will also underpin further work under the EU Critical Communications System initiative.
The initiative will support key organisations including An Garda Síochána, the fire services, the National Ambulance Service, and Civil Defence. While Ireland's emergency services have relied for over two decades on the TETRA digital radio system for voice communications, that network was never designed to carry the live video, mapping, and data that underpin modern emergency response. This roaming capability forms part of a wider government programme to modernise emergency communications and support the transition to next-generation mobile broadband technology.
Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships, Minister Jack Chambers noted that the upgrade will help ensure emergency personnel maintain access to critical information regardless of location. Minister of State Frank Feighan added that the agreement is the result of sustained engagements between the OGCIO, mobile operators, and mobile core partner Druid Software, and will also underpin further work under the EU Critical Communications System initiative.