LG Uplus launches priority network access service for firefighters

Service ensures stable communications for firefighters at disaster scenes

Ministry of Science and ICT, fire agency back launch

Park Gyeong-jung (left), head of external affairs at LG Uplus, and Hong Yeong-geun, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters, attend a launch ceremony for the firefighter priority network access service at the headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. [LG Uplus]

LG Uplus has launched a priority network access service for firefighters to support their communications at disaster scenes.

The company said Wednesday it introduced the service to ensure stable mobile connectivity for firefighters at fire and disaster scenes. The aim is to reduce disruptions caused by network congestion during emergency response and to improve both efficiency and safety in the field.

The service keeps voice calls and data connections running smoothly for firefighters even when mobile network usage surges during major fires or accidents. LG Uplus said it would ease the communication strain that can hamper on-site command, situation reporting and coordination among crew members during disaster response.

The company expects firefighters to notice improved network stability at every stage of an emergency — from dispatch through active response to the conclusion of an incident. During moments of peak network demand, the service is intended to enable reliable communication with command centers and real-time information sharing during rescue and emergency medical operations.

LG Uplus proposed the service to the National Fire Agency as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, and all three major mobile carriers subsequently joined in operating it.

The company said it had been preparing the telecommunications partnership with the fire service since last year. In October last year, LG Uplus signed an MOU with the National Fire Agency to strengthen public safety and began working on a framework to give firefighters priority network access even during disasters. The company said this marks the first time a telecommunications carrier has partnered with the National Fire Agency to build such a priority communications system.

A promotional image for LG Uplus's firefighter priority network access service. [LG Uplus]

LG Uplus is also replacing SIM cards used at fire department sites to enable the service. The rollout began in May with the Changwon Fire Headquarters in South Gyeongsang Province and is ongoing, with the goal of ensuring the service functions smoothly in actual field conditions.

The service was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Fire Agency. The ministry provided policy support and reviewed the regulatory framework to strengthen communications quality in the disaster and public safety sector, while the National Fire Agency reflected frontline needs to ensure the service addresses real operational conditions.

LG Uplus said it plans to use the launch as a springboard to expand the role of telecommunications in the disaster and public safety sector and to fulfill its social responsibilities through continued cooperation with the public sector.

"Communications are the basic infrastructure of disaster response in the field, and through cooperation with the relevant authorities, firefighters can now focus on their missions in a more stable network environment," said Park Gyeong-jung, head of external affairs at LG Uplus. "We will continue to expand telecommunications services that contribute to public safety and the creation of social value."

chami@heraldcorp.com