The new Next Generation 112 System (Next Generation NG112), which is expected to be delivered and put into operation in 20 months, will enable the handling of voice calls, real-time text messages, images, video, location data, and automatic eCall alerts from vehicles, providing first responders with more comprehensive and timely information during critical incidents, where every second can be crucial.

The system will operate as the national Emergency Call Center, serving all of the Republic’s emergency response services, including the Fire Department, the Cyprus Police, the Ambulance Service, the Forestry Department, the National Guard, the Search and Rescue Coordination Center, and Civil Defense.

In remarks to CNA on the occasion of yesterday’s signing of a contract with CYTA for the implementation of the Next-Generation 112 System, the Civil Defense Spokesperson, Panagiotis Liasides, clarified that CY-Alert and 112 are two different systems. “One (112) is used by citizens to contact government agencies when they need help, while CY-Alert is the new Public Warning System, developed to alert and inform the public,”, he noted.

He also pointed out that 112 is currently operating normally under the Police, but the government has decided to transfer it to Civil Defense, which is why these procedures are underway, adding that new equipment will be installed, which will have many capabilities—one of which, and a very important one, is the ability to transmit real-time video footage.

He also noted that with the new Next-Generation 112 System, the response time of the relevant agencies will be faster, more effective, and will enable the unified management of all emergency communications at the national level, effectively upgrading the operational capabilities of the relevant services and improving the speed and quality of their response.

He also noted that it will ensure equal access to emergency services for people with disabilities, in line with European standards.

Responding to a question, Mr. Liasides said that this represents another step forward from the existing system. “There are many new features that make it more effective in terms of information sharing and faster response times from emergency services. Overall, we believe it will be a much better system than the current one,” he added.

He also noted that Civil Defense will be responsible for managing the system in cooperation with the other agencies involved.

When asked when the new system would become operational and be transferred to Civil Defense, Mr. Liasides said that the agreement calls for installation to be completed within 20 months and that once it is ready, it will be put into operation immediately, but, as he noted, the existing system will continue to operate normally until the new one is installed.

It should be noted that Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou, in a video statement made on the occasion of the agreement’s signing, said that following the implementation of the CY-Alert system, upgrading the 112 emergency number represents yet another essential step toward a more modern, effective, and reliable management of emergency incidents.

He noted that with the completion of NG112, the Republic of Cyprus will have a modern, unified, and resilient emergency call management system, fully harmonized with European standards, which will significantly strengthen civil protection, public safety, and the protection of human life, meeting the modern needs of society and the expectations of citizens.

Source: CNA