The European Union has implemented new regulations aimed at improving the effectiveness of the emergency number 112, particularly focusing on accurate location identification during emergencies.

As part of these regulations, EU member states are required to report their progress to the European Commission on the implementation of emergency call access via 112, with a deadline for improvements in mobile-derived location data set for December 2024.

Currently, Advanced Mobile Location (AML) technology is available in nearly all EU member states, with only Cyprus, Malta, and Poland yet to adopt it; Poland is expected to implement AML by 2027.

Modern smartphones utilize AML technology, which activates GPS and other sensors during a call to provide precise location data to emergency services.

In instances where AML fails, emergency services can rely on alternative network-based location methods, such as cell tower triangulation.

In 2023, a significant majority of emergency calls in the EU, approximately 82%, were made via mobile phones, highlighting the importance of mobile technology in emergency response.

For landline calls, the caller's location must include specific address details, while mobile networks are required to specify location accuracy in meters to effectively define the search area.

A notable case in Lithuania involved a murder victim who used a smartphone without a SIM card, which hindered the transmission of location data, contrasting with Germany's requirement for operational SIM cards during emergency calls.

While AML typically requires a SIM card and mobile reception, Google's Emergency Location Service (ELS) for Android can transmit location data via Wi-Fi, even in the absence of a SIM card.

A pivotal 2019 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union emphasized the necessity for reliable location determination of emergency calls to enhance the effectiveness of emergency services.

The ruling that spurred these regulations was influenced by the tragic case of a 17-year-old girl in Lithuania, who was unable to be located despite making multiple emergency calls in 2013.