ESN will utilise the network coverage from the UK’s fastest network provider, EE, to provide mission-critical teams with enhanced communication capabilities. The Coverage Portal will provide the Home Office and Blue Light users with an intelligent data visualisation platform and will be built using data collected from network test devices installed directly into emergency services vehicles. This will provide blue light teams with insight into the true network performance and will also allow the EE delivery team to effectively monitor the ESN network, with additional data layers to compare real-world coverage analytics to their contractual obligations as the UK’s ESN provider.
The Coverage Portal platform will therefore play a crucial role in the delivery of the ESN project for both the Home Office and for EE and support the digital transformation of the emergency services.
As ESN transitions from the legacy TETRA system to a modern LTE-based solution, several key challenges needed to be addressed to ensure the success of this critical upgrade. One of the primarily challenges is to build trust within blue light services, such as police, fire, and ambulance teams, by demonstrating that the new network can deliver the uninterrupted, high-performance connectivity required for life-saving operations. For these users, theoretical coverage predictions are insufficient.
To meet this need, the coverage portal must display real-time, accurate network performance data that reflects actual usage across the UK. The platform must also offer intuitive visualisation tools, enabling emergency service teams to access, interpret, and act on network data as needed. This ensures that each service can monitor coverage in their specific areas, identify potential gaps, and maintain confidence in the reliability of their communications.
Launched in January 2025, the Coverage Portal project is being delivered through a phased approach to support the evolving needs of the Emergency Services Network (ESN).
By deploying our network test technology directly into emergency services vehicles and onto mobile handsets, we were able to rapidly generate network data across the entire network which reflected how the ESN would be used by emergency services teams. It was essential that the data be presented through intuitive visualisations and user-friendly tools to support fast, informed decision-making. This required designing solutions that allowed emergency service teams to easily assess network performance, identify coverage gaps, and take action to maintain operational continuity and safety.
Following the successful delivery of phase one, to gather network data and provide a functional platform to visualise radio access network data, Metricell has been awarded the contracts for phases two and three extending the partnership over the next decade. Planned developments in Phase Two include adding additional administrative layers tailored to mission-critical teams, network resiliency modelling tools and enhanced data visualisation capabilities.
This multi-phase programme marks a significant step forward in modernising the UK’s emergency communications infrastructure. Metricell remains a trusted partner in this journey, supporting EE and the broader public safety community through innovative, purpose-built technology.
Number of front-line emergency service team members who depend on ESN.
New masts being constructed in remote areas to boost network coverage.
Sites being upgraded to facilitate the coverage of ESN over the UK.
Kilometres of road sections covered under the ESN in the UK.
Metricell was selected to support the delivery of the UK’s emergency services network (ESN), building upon our decade-long partnership with EE and a seven-year track record as a trusted and approved supplier to the UK government’s Home Office. Our long-term relationship with EE and our established role within previous public sector projects positioned us as a natural choice for this critical initiative.
The Emergency Services Network (ESN) is intended to replace the legacy TETRA system to provide emergency services with a modern, data-enabled LTE communication platform capable of supporting advanced functionalities. This multi-phase initiative represents a major milestone in the evolution of the UK’s emergency communications infrastructure and Metricell is proud to play a central role in its delivery.
