• Successor technology for car emergency calls now active in Germany’s mobile networks
• Faster establishment of voice connections and faster data transmission than before
• Development of new data-based services in connection with eCall possible in the future
• Parallel operation – existing eCall emergency call system continues to function in the 2G network

Mobile network operators Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and O2 Telefónica today officially launched the new ‘Next Generation Emergency Call’ (NG eCall) system on their networks. Unlike the previous system, NG eCall no longer uses the approximately 40-year-old 2G (GSM) mobile technology to establish emergency calls. Instead, the connection is established via the more modern 4G (LTE) network and, in the future, via the 5G network. In addition, location and vehicle data are transmitted to the emergency call centres faster than before. The technically outdated eCall emergency call system will remain active. The next generation will be used when both vehicles and control centres support the new system. If this is not the case, the emergency call will be handled via the old system as before. Both generations of emergency calls will therefore run in parallel for the time being. In general, the emergency call system for cars shortens the response times of emergency services in the event of traffic accidents by automatically establishing a telephone connection to the 112 emergency number in the event of serious accidents and transmitting important information such as the location of the accident.

Advantages of NG eCall

The introduction of NG eCall offers a number of improvements. The call to the vehicle occupants is established much faster. The previous restrictions on data transmission are also eliminated. This will enable third parties to develop new applications in connection with emergency calls. For example, it is conceivable that additional information such as the medical data of the vehicle occupants could be transmitted via the faster connection – if the occupants agree. Live images from cameras installed in the car could also be transmitted. This would give rescuers a more accurate overview before they arrive at the scene of the accident and allow them to prepare for the operation while still en route.

Quotes from network operators

Marc Hölzer, Head of Network Development at Vodafone: “NG eCall enables vehicle emergency calls using state-of-the-art mobile technology and is future-proof. We are now activating the technology for this in our network. The emergency call system makes driving safer on all roads and ensures rapid assistance in the event of accidents. In future, rescue services will be able to obtain a comprehensive overview of the accident scene more quickly than before and initiate rescue measures in an even more targeted manner.”

“The introduction of the new vehicle emergency call system is a safety gain for consumers who are on the roads in this country. An emergency call from the road must reach the emergency services quickly – whether on the motorway or on a country road. Such a centralised system must not be dependent on old radio technology. NG eCall is like a digital emergency telephone for cars,‘ says Mallik Rao, Chief Technology and Business Customer Officer at O2 Telefónica. ’But an emergency call is only as good as the connection that carries it. Powerful and consistently expanded mobile networks ensure that people in Germany are safely connected at all times, even in their cars.”

Alexander Jenbar, Chief Technology Officer at Telekom Deutschland: ‘NG eCall is an important step for road safety. With this technology, we are using the full power of our modern 4G and 5G networks to transmit emergency calls faster and more reliably than ever before. Our customers should know that in an emergency, the mobile networks are there for them. That is our claim – safety through reliability and trust in network quality when it really counts.’

There is currently no need for this function in the 1&1 mobile network, as there are currently no contracts for fleet SIM cards with vehicle manufacturers. As soon as appropriate partnerships are established, 1&1 will implement NG eCall.

NG eCall has been mandatory for all new vehicle models since January 2026

The previous eCall generation has been mandatory throughout the EU for all new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles since 2018. NG eCall, on the other hand, will only be mandatory in Europe for all new vehicle models in order to obtain approval from January 2026. Next year, NG eCall must also be installed in all new vehicles.

End of 2G for Vodafone and Telekom in 2028

The launch of next-generation eCall in Germany’s mobile networks is important because the current emergency call system communicates via 2G (GSM) and 3G (UMTS) mobile networks. German telecommunications providers already switched off 3G networks in 2021. Vodafone plans to deactivate its 2G services in September 2028. For particularly critical IoT applications such as eCall, Vodafone’s 2G network will remain open until 2030. Telekom will switch off its 2G network in June 2028, while O2 Telefónica has not yet announced a date for switching off its 2G network.