Consultation - Regulations concerning the relay of emergency calls to public emergency services

28/06/2007

The National Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) intends to issue new regulations concerning the relay of emergency calls to public emergency services.

According to Chapter 5, Section 7, item 1 of the Electronic Communications Act (EkomL: 2003:389), the party providing a public telephony service is required to assist in emergency calls being conveyed without interruption and free of charge for the user. Such providers shall also, to the extent that it is technically feasible, provide those who receive emergency calls with location data (Chapter 5, Section 7, item 2 of EkomL). Currently, PTS’s Regulations PTSFS 2002:4 apply concerning the relay of emergency calls to public emergency and rescue services. The new regulations have been issued under the Telecommunications Act (1993:597) and the Telecommunications Ordinance (1997:399). The new regulations proposed concerning the relay of emergency calls are intended to replace PTSFS 2002:4 and entail an adaptation to the provisions of EkomL in terms of both language and content. The obligation to assist in the relay of emergency calls is identical in substance in EkomL compared with the Telecommunications Act, whereas the obligation to provide location data is new to EkomL.

PTS's proposed new regulations are now being circulated for consultation to operators, services providers and other relevant organisations. Responses are expected no later than 15 September 2007, and following usual circulation procedures, the aim is for the regulations to enter into force on 1 January 2008.

The regulations (Swedish)