International Telecommunication Union Accra, Ghana, June 2009 Emergency Communications Systems: Nigeria Bashir Gwandu, PhD, MBA, CEng MIEE, MIEEE Executive Commissioner (Engineering & Standards) Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC ITU FORUM ON IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS OF WTSA-08 (Accra, Ghana, June 2009)

International Telecommunication Union Outline Introduction Typical Emergency Situations Guiding Sections of the Nigerian Communications Act Nigerias Plan The Need for Congestion free Dedicated Network Tetra Example Typical Set-up of Emergency Communications Facility Conclusions Accra, Ghana, June

International Telecommunication Union Introduction The purpose of National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) is to promote the ability of emergency response providers and relevant government agencies to continue to communicate in an event of natural and man made disasters and ensure, facilitate, and attain interoperable emergency communications nationwide. Accra, Ghana, June

International Telecommunication Union Accra, Ghana, June Typical Emergency Situations Crimes (Needing Police Attention) Health (Accident & Emergencies) Fire (Fire Services) Natural and Man-made Disasters Terrorism

International Telecommunication Union Pipeline Explosion Ilado, May 12, Accra, Ghana, June Typical Emergency Situations-2

International Telecommunication Union What the Law Says Section 107 (3) The Commission shall, in specific regard to emergency services, take immediate steps upon the commencement of this Act to – (a) promote and enhance public safety through the use of a particular number which shall be designated as the universal safety and emergency assistance number for telephony services generally; and (b) encourage and facilitate the prompt deployment throughout Nigeria of a seamless, ubiquitous and reliable end-t o-end infrastructure for emergency communications needs. Accra, Ghana, June

International Telecommunication Union Nigerias Plan NCC proposed to build Emergency Communications Network Centers in all the thirty-six Nigerian states and Federal Capital Abuja. A central Node in each Center will have all the necessary switching and routing facilities for voice and data in an emergency situation to connect to the appropriate response agencies. Accra, Ghana, June

International Telecommunication Union Network Plan Emergency Communications may require not only the Centers but also a robust dedicated telecommunication network. Such Network must be free of congestions during peaceful events and also must not be susceptible to congestions during emergency. An efficient, versatile, easy to maintain, and reliable Broadband wireless platform, with transmission backup (such as Satellite/Fiber/Microwave) that can also support other security services can be used, but, must be free of congestion under all situations including during emergency. Going by what happened during London/Madrid bombings, Private commercial networks were congested within a short time. Such fit falls must be avoided. Accra, Ghana, June

International Telecommunication Union Dedicated Network: Tetra Trans-European Trunked Radio System (TETRA) architecture can be use for the emergency Communications. TETRA is open digital trunk mobile radio standard developed by ETSI since The system supports applications such as secure speech / data transfer, fixed image, slow video, etc. Accra, Ghana, June

International Telecommunication Union Tetra Network1 TETRA is a high security technology that inherently includes encryption of voice, data, signaling and user identities. Two encryption mechanisms are defined: 1. Air interlace encryption, 2. End-to-end encryption. TETRA provides very fast call set-up time (300 ms), that is crucial for the public safety and emergency services. Included in TETRA is the advanced group and announcement call features. Tetra provides for Direct Mode Operation for Communications between Terminals, beyond Network Coverage Area Accra, Ghana, June

International Telecommunication Union Accra, Ghana, June Direct Mode Features of Tetra

International Telecommunication Union Pipeline Explosion Ilado, May 12, Accra, Ghana, June Connecting to other Networks TETRA networks facilitate a range of connections to external networks. A TETRA network can be connected to, for example, public and private telephone networks, different types of data networks as well as large command and control systems. All these networks can be accessed from the mobile terminal.

International Telecommunication Union Accra, Ghana, June Emergency Call Taking and Dispatching & Monitoring

International Telecommunication Union Accra, Ghana, June Critical Emergency Control Rooms

International Telecommunication Union Accra, Ghana, June Typical Equipment Rooms

International Telecommunication Union Conclusions Have Discussed Typical Emergency Situations What the Nigerian Law Says Have highlighted the Nigerias Plan that is currently under- execution Have discussed the Need for Congestion free Dedicated Network for Emergencies services Discussed the example of Tetra Networks Have Presented Practical Set-up of Emergency Communications Facility Accra, Ghana, June

International Telecommunication Union 17 THE END I Thank You all