The Government proposes that the transitional period for introducing real time text in emergency calls be extended. It must be possible to submit an emergency call using real time text by 28 June 2027.
Provisions on the answering of emergency communications made to the emergency number and on the accessibility of the number were added to the Act on Emergency Response Centre Operations in 2023. These provisions are based on the EU Directive on the accessibility requirements for products and services. With an accessible emergency number, emergency calls can be made and answered using real time speech or text.
According to the government proposal, the Emergency Response Centre Agency will be given more time to implement the system. The transitional period will be extended to the maximum period allowed by EU legislation. The new option for emergency calls must be introduced by 28 June 2027 at the latest.
The option of using real time text to place an emergency call is intended especially for people with hearing or speech impairments who have previously relied on emergency text messages.
Callers can still make emergency calls by sending an emergency text message. However, after 28 June 2025, they will no longer need to register their phone number to use the text messaging service. This change will make it easier to use emergency text messages.
