IBM has been selected by the Home Office to lead the design and implementation of a major new communications network that will modernise how emergency services work together across Great Britain.

The Emergency Services Network (ESN) will support over 300,000 emergency responders, providing them with enhanced technology and faster access to data during critical operations. The system will enable police forces, fire services and ambulance trusts to share live data, imagery, location information and essential public safety details in real-time.

The policing minister, Dame Diana Johnson, who will chair regular meetings to oversee the project's progress, said: "Every day our brave emergency services help members of the public facing life-or-death situations. We must do everything we can to maximise the chances of successful outcomes, and communications between frontline staff is critical to ensuring this."

The project, which has faced several delays since its inception in 2015, was originally meant to have replaced the existing Airwave system by 2020. MPs warned in 2023 that the former Conservative government had already spent more than £2 billion on the project, with emergency services facing "significant costs" due to Home Office failures.

Rahul Kalia, managing partner at IBM UK and Ireland, expressed pride in the company's new role: "We are proud to support the Emergency Services Network in delivering a secure and resilient communications platform to empower frontline emergency services."

The new system will include software for handheld devices with data-sharing capabilities and real-time video features. In practical applications, such as responding to a serious road traffic collision, emergency services will be able to share precise GPS locations and access critical information about vehicles and casualties instantly.

The latest contract, valued at £1.362 billion, runs for an initial seven-year term until the end of 2031, with possible extensions until 2033. IBM will work alongside partners including Samsung Electronics, Ericsson, Frequentis, Exponential-E and Palo Alto Networks to deliver the project.

The announcement follows BT-owned EE's recent selection as the provider of mobile communications infrastructure, as the government works towards deploying ESN and decommissioning the current Airwave system. Similar technology has already been successfully implemented in other countries, including the USA, Canada and South Korea.

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