Testing Vehicle Emergency Call Equipment in the DT Network

Until 13 June 2025, the "Next Generation eCall Plugtests 2025" will take place in Bonn. In the event of an accident, vehicles automatically send an emergency call over eCall via mobile networks.

The event, organized by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), will allow us to verify the interoperability of the various components that form part of the European Next Generation Emergency Communication system. The current tests are intended to ensure the interoperability between in-vehicle systems and the emergency call centers so that the emergency call service will also work over modern mobile networks with 4G/LTE today, and 5G in the future.

At the event, automotive OEMs, as well as suppliers of in-vehicle systems and suppliers of emergency call center equipment, will first validate the implementations in the 4G/LTE network. Deutsche Telekom is hosting the event and making its mobile network available for the tests. The DT network has been ready for the Next Generation Emergency Call (NG eCall) since December 2023. Since then, suppliers of on-board electronics, automotive OEMs, and equipment suppliers for emergency call centers have been using the network for their own tests. Now they are jointly validating the interoperability of their systems in Deutsche Telekom's live network.

The event is attracting great interest from vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers internationally, as the technical foundations for the previous eCall systems are gradually being switched off in more and more countries. In addition to the various automotive ecosystem players taking part in the tests, the other German mobile network operators are also invited to participate. This should make it possible to extend the tests to components in the other mobile networks.