Optus, Ericsson and FrontierSI power emergency service location positioning

Optus, Ericsson and FrontierSI have partnered to bring what they say are new levels of accuracy to positioning systems for emergency response operations in a public safety proof-of-concept trial on a live commercial network. The companies say the trial successfully demonstrated more reliable connection and situational awareness for emergency services during search and rescue operations and other emergency responses using the Optus 5G Standalone (SA) network.

The solution involves pairing an emergency vehicle with autonomous drone tracking, using Ericsson’s 5G SA technology. It also uses 5G Advanced Global Navigation Satellite System Real-Time Kinematic (GNSS-RTK) positioning correction data and network slicing to provide centimetre-level positioning and real-time geo-referenced video and telemetry for safer and faster search and rescue missions.

FrontierSI’s system integration and positioning capabilities support the coordination of vehicle, drone and command-centre applications within the proof of concept. For emergency response operations, the solution helps to improve situational awareness by providing command centres with real-time visibility of exact vehicle and drone positions on a map. It is designed for use in environments such as urban canyons and bushland that challenge traditional GPS systems.

Ericsson says the proof of concept helps to support faster and safer interventions by reducing the time required to locate victims, enabling earlier identification of obstructions such as roadblocks or smoke, improving resource allocation, and helping minimise responder exposure to hazards.

Network slicing enables multiple logical networks to operate on shared physical network infrastructure combined with Mission Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT) service, providing purpose-built network experiences with specific performance characteristics. This supports the differentiated connectivity and precise positioning needed for mission-critical emergency operations.

“This proof of concept shows how we’re putting 5G SA to work beyond standard connectivity,” said Sri Amirthalingam, Optus Chief Technology Officer. “Together with Ericsson and FrontierSI, we’re bringing precise positioning and network slicing into real-world emergency response, and opening up new, mission-critical use cases for public safety, government and enterprise customers.”

“Collaborating with Optus and Ericsson, we’ve been able to connect vehicle, drone and command-centre applications into a single, precise, real-time operational picture,” said James Leversha, Head of Product Solutions at FrontierSI. “That integration is what turns cutting-edge technology into something genuinely useful for emergency services.”

“This collaboration with Optus and FrontierSI shows how 5G Standalone enables precise situational awareness, bringing advanced positioning together with real-time information, and is a clear demonstration of 5G driving operational change for public safety,” said Ludvig Landgren, Head of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand.

The hardware set-up includes 5G nodes and 5G SA routers equipped with GNSS-RTK modules, supported by the Ericsson Network Location Server (ENL) and GNSS-RTK reference station. Together, these components enable autonomous drone tracking of vehicles with lane-level accuracy, supporting operations in conditions where visibility and standard satellite reception may degrade.

Image credit: iStock.com/Just_Super