The UK Office of Telecommunications watchdog has come out in favour of removing the responsibility for emergency 999 calls from the public telecommunications operators and transferring it to a newly established Call Handling Agency. As the first step, it will invite tenders from consultants, who will be be asked to do a validation study and submit proposals for an implementation plan, including funding and management. The bidders will also look at the whys and wherefores of Calling Line Identification information on emergency calls. The announcement is in response to the findings of an independent working party made up of representatives from the telecommunications operators, the watchdog and government departments. Ministers endorsed the report at the end of January. The group reckons that it will take approximately two and half years for the Agency to get up and running, and until then, the system will continue as at present.
