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Resilient Telecommunications

Enhancing the resilience of communications

Privileged access to mobile telecommunications networks

Public cellular mobile telephony has played an important role in responding to recent emergencies. But the networks can become overwhelmed by a high concentration of calls such as those that occur immediately after a major incident. Privileged access is achieved by installing a special SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) in the telephone handset. Special SIMs are only available to entitled users and not to members of the public. The scheme was called ACCOLC.

As part of our strategy for enhancing the resilience of telecommunications available to our responder community we are reviewing the arrangements for entitlement to and management of all privileged access schemes. The new scheme for mobile telecommunications is called the Mobile Telecommunications Privileged Access Scheme, or MTPAS.

Activation Arrangements

MTPAS can only be activated by the Police Gold Commander in charge of the response to a major incident. Using an agreed protocol, the Gold Commander advises all network operators that a major incident has been declared and a Gold Command is being established. As a result of the incident, mobile telecommunications networks may experience an abnormally high concentration of calls. If networks become congested, handsets installed with a special SIM will stand a much higher likelihood of being able to connect to their network and make calls than other customers.

Interim arrangements for managing entitlement

SIMs issued under the old scheme will, for the time being, work under MTPAS. While the new arrangements for managing entitlement are being implemented Cabinet Office are not considering applications. The Emergency Services are exempt from this restriction and existing arrangements remain in place. Applications will be entertained from other entitled organisations but only under exceptional circumstances and then they will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Migration arrangements

The Cabinet Office is currently finalising the management arrangements for the new scheme which are planned to roll out from the end of 2008. In due course, the Telecommunications Sub Groups (TSGs) will assume responsibility for managing the Scheme in their area.