Emergency mobile roaming coming to UK?

Telecoms regulator Ofcom is mulling over the idea of introducing an emergency mobile roaming service in the UK.

At present, mobile calls to 999 or 112 can only be connected if the caller's network is available in the area - which is a particular problem in remote areas in Scotland and Wales, according to Ofcom.

The regulator said it is working closely with mobile network operators and the emergency services to develop a service where emergency calls automatically 'roam' onto an available network if there is no coverage from the customer's own mobile service.

If technical trials by the mobile network operators are successful, Ofcom said it expects the service to be in place by the end of the year.

The proposal is part of its consultation on Access and Inclusion, published today.

A ruling from the regulator requiring VoIP telephony providers to enable customers to make calls to the emergency services came into force in September 2008.