Regulation of VoIP Services: Access to the Emergency Services | Ofcom

Regulation of VoIP Services: Access to the Emergency Services | Ofcom

Ofcom is proposing that all VoIP providers will need to provide access to 999 services since users of VoIP services are unaware or thought that services did privide access.

They are holding a consultation which closes on 20th Sept 2007.

If providers do provide 999 services they will be classed as PATS which may put further obligations on the provider.

Currently 999 services have the ability to tie a telephone number to an address (or to a cell site in terms of mobile calls - they Cell ID is passed as part of the call set-up), VoIP calls make this more difficult, however this is similar to US policy where VoIP providers have to meet E911 conditions.