Optus, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC), and FrontierSI have partnered to bring new levels of accuracy to positioning systems for emergency response operations in a world-first public safety proof-of-concept trial on a live commercial network. 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 precise 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. 

With Ericsson differentiate connectivity and 5G Advanced GNSS-RTK technology working together with Ericsson’s 5G Advanced software network slicing capabilities in Optus’s 5G SA network, 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 minimize responder exposure to hazards.

The 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.

The proof-of-concept is designed to improve situational awareness for emergency services, in turn supporting 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 minimize responder exposure to hazards.

Sri Amirthalingam, Optus Chief Technology Officer, says “This proof-of-concept shows how we’re putting 5G SA to work beyond standard connectivity. 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.”

James Leversha, Head of Product Solutions at FrontierSI, says: “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. That integration is what turns cutting-edge technology into something genuinely useful for emergency services."

Ludvig Landgren, Head of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand, says: “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. It also highlights how Ericsson, working with partners, is helping to drive a broader shift in the industry, as operators move beyond best-effort connectivity to deliver more specialized services for public safety, government, and enterprise sectors.”

FURTHER INFORMATION:

In this landmark proof-of-concept, a dedicated public safety network slice supports reliable uplink throughput for video and telemetry for first responders and command centre operators who require Stringent Service Level Agreements. The solution also uses Ericsson’s Automated Radio Resource Partitioning and traffic management features, including rate-controlled scheduling, priority admission control and MSC-Priority Access, to prioritize emergency communications.

The hardware setup 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.