UK’s long-delayed ESN gets a new set of ‘realistic but ambitious’ targets

Joe Purnell2026-03-27T15:58:00

Source: Maggie Yap / Unsplash

The oft-criticised Emergency Services Network is now expected to go ‘live’ in mid-2028, with a mass transition not set to complete until 2030 — more than a decade behind schedule. EE and IBM claim significant progress, however, and Home Office assures latest dates are within reason…

This article includes:

Themes: Airwave switch‑off; Emergency communications; ESN delays; Mission‑critical communications (MCX); Mobile Services readiness; Programme governance; Public safety networks; Resilience testing; Rural coverage; User migration planning.
Events: BAPCO 2026; Critical Communications World 2025.
People: Faisal Mahomed; John Black; Steve Kelly.
Geographic: Brussels; UK.
Organisations: Airwave; EE; Home Office; IBM; Leonardo; British APCO (BAPCO).

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