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Last updated: 04 September 2009
Public cellular mobile telephony has played an important role during the response to recent emergencies, but the mobile networks can become overwhelmed by a high concentration of calls that often occur immediately after a major incident. Reliable access to the mobile networks, even during times when an exceptionally large number of calls are being made, is achieved by installing a special SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card in the telephone handset. Special SIMs are only available to entitled users within the responder community and not to members of the public.
As part of our strategy for enhancing the resilience of telecommunications available to our responder community we have recently reviewed the arrangements for entitlement to and management of all privileged access schemes. The new scheme for mobile telecommunications is called the Mobile Telecommunications Privileged Access Scheme, or MTPAS.
Due to a partnership of the Cabinet Office, Regional Government Offices, Local Resilience Forums’ Telecommunications Sub Groups (TSGs) and the responder community, the Mobile Telecoms Privileged Access Scheme was launched as scheduled on the 1st September 2009. This means that the Scheme is fully operational; many user organisations are successfully working with the mobile Network Service Providers using the new management processes to ensure entitled roles have this facility available to them.
For various unavoidable reasons, some Local Resilience Forums’ TSGs and the Devolved Administrations (DAs) are currently completing the required implementation work before the management processes can be used by the responder community in these areas. We expect all TSGs and the DAs to have completed this work and be using the new management processes by the end of October 2009.
MTPAS supersedes ACCOLC, the old Scheme for managing mobile privileged access, SIMs issued under the old scheme will continue to work under MTPAS.
MTPAS is only available to Category 1 and 2 Responders (as defined in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004) and partner organisations which directly support them at the scene of an emergency incident. For full details of the entitlement criteria, please contact your local TSG.
The TSGs have responsibility for coordinating the Scheme in their local resilience area. If you represent a responder organisation which currently don't use privileged access SIMs in their staff's mobile phones, please contact your local TSG for information on how to join the Scheme. If you work in an organisation which is already part of the Scheme and believe your role entitles you to use this facility, then please contact your organisation's MTPAS Point of Contact.
Some responder organisations work on a national basis, rather than locally, these organisations are coordinated by a central government department. If you are representing an organisation which may not be coordinated by a TSG, please enquire via the contact details below.
To support the strategy for enhancing the resilience of telecommunications, MTPAS will:
Using an agreed protocol, the Police Gold Commander, in charge of the response to a major incident, notifies all network operators that a major incident has been declared. As a result of the incident, mobile telecommunications networks may experience an abnormally high concentration of calls. If networks become congested, handsets installed with a privileged access SIM will stand a much higher likelihood of being able to connect to their network and make calls than other customers.
If you have any questions about the MTPAS please email MTPAS@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk.
General enquiries: Cabinet Office, 22 Whitehall, London SW1A 2WH.
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