Home Office and IBM to partner on Emergency Services Network

The Home Office has partnered with IBM to help deliver its overdue Emergency Services Network. The deal will see IBM provide software equipping more than 300,000 personnel with data-sharing functions and real-time video features, affording them the critical information they need to save lives.
Rahul Kalia, Managing Partner at IBM UK and Ireland, commented, "We are proud to support the Emergency Services Network in delivering a secure and resilient communications platform to empower frontline emergency services. Working with our ecosystem partners, we will deliver mission-critical services for first responders to enhance safety in our communities across Great Britain. We look forward to working with the government to deliver this in a timely and cost-effective manner."
The Emergency Services Network (ESN) is an LTE radio communications network, which is currently under development in the UK to provide unified communication for British emergency services. It is intended to replace the existing TETRA-based Airwave network in 2026. However, that date is seven years after the original planned time of 2019, and IBM’s appointment to help deliver the ESN comes after a series of delays from previous suppliers.
However, providing the emergency services with improved technology is a key part of the government’s drive to make the nation’s streets safer, which is a crucial part of the Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ‘Plan for Change’. As a result, the incumbent government is committing to delivering the project as quickly as possible and help save lives as a result. The Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson, will chair regular meetings to ensure the project is running to time and cost.
Johnson commented, “Every day our brave emergency services help members of the public facing life-or-death situations. We must do everything we can to maximise the chances of successful outcomes, and communications between frontline staff is critical to ensuring this. This government is working tirelessly to support this project, making sure it is delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner, and IBM will be an important part of bringing the Emergency Services Network online.”
Looking ahead, the ESN will implement the next generation of fast, safe, and secure voice, video, and data communication, allowing emergency services to work in tandem and coordinate efforts when protecting and aiding members of the public. Similar technology has already been rolled out with success in countries including the USA, Canada and South Korea.
As the new User Services supplier, IBM will be responsible for leading the design, build and system integration of the ESN platform. The firm’s expertise will be fundamental to ensuring improved and more efficient communication capabilities for mission critical services. IBM will do this in collaboration with other partners, including Samsung Electronics, Ericsson, Frequentis, Exponential-E and Palo Alto Networks.