Telcos, Govts. ‘Dragging Their Feet’ on eCall
The European Parliament likely will urge govts. and telcos to speed work on a pan-European system intended to deliver emergency services automatic alerts of vehicle accidents. The “eCall” proposal is part of a move by the European Commission to use data and communications tools to boost road safety. After a debate at today’s (Thurs.) plenary session, lawmakers are expected to approve a road map to put the technology in new vehicles beginning in Sept. 2009.
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European Parliament members will weigh UK MEP Gary Titley’s own-initiative proposal. Titley sought industry and govt. opinions on eCall after EC indications this year that follow-through was lagging, he told us. “We're keen to go ahead,” he said. In a report, Titley said an in-vehicle system directly calling the nearest public safety answering point (PSAP) could halve emergency response times and save nearly 21 billion ($26 billion) a year.
In his proposal, Titley suggests synchronizing full deployment of eCall in all automobiles with the Galileo satellite positioning system going fully operational, set for 2010. It urges the Commission to ensure member countries have systems for using pan-European emergency number 112. The resolution encourages the commission and industry to look into gradual introduction and adoption of eCall through a blend of factory-installed systems and options such as use of drivers’ mobile phones, Bluetooth technology, and built-in mobile phones.
A Commission-created eCall Driving Group will devise a business model and define public and private sector roles. The panel -- including representatives of telcos, govts., the EC, PSAP operators, carmakers, gear suppliers, service providers, highway operators, auto clubs and insurers -- drafted a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on adopting the system. It has around 50 signatures, including 6 countries and several communications companies.
Germany and Austria haven’t signed, out of concern about data privacy and protection of personal data, said a spokesman for Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding. Those concerns center on the need to control which services have access to information in onboard emergency calls. But, the spokesman said, talks with officials in both countries “within the EU Data Protection Officers Working Party are making steady progress and we anticipate that they will be ready to sign the MoU by the end of summer.
Spain has concerns about eCall, too, Titley said. The national govt. backs eCall, but regional authorities have control of emergency service call centers, the EC spokesman said: “We're exploring with them any concerns they may have” and “are optimistic that the Spanish emergency services will sign the MoU in the coming months.”
Telcos “have been dragging their feet as well,” Titley said. Proponents of eCall are caught in a “chicken & egg situation” with industry balking until govts. act, he said. His report, while decrying delays on eCall, said neither telecom nor vehicle makers “should bear any significant costs without the guarantee that public expenditures and actions are also taken” at national govt. level.
“If there is a lack of willingness from stakeholders to act, public and private incentive solutions should be examined by the Commission,” Titley wrote.