New communications network to be rolled out to first responders

New Emergency Communications Network Tested in Co Mayo Following Storm Éowyn Failures

Emergency services and support agencies in County Mayo are trialling a new communications network designed to prevent outages like those that occurred during Storm Éowyn earlier this year.

The January storm brought record-breaking winds, with mean speeds of 135 km/h and gusts of up to 183 km/h recorded at Ceann Mhása in Galway. The extreme conditions caused widespread damage, leaving approximately 768,000 homes, farms, and businesses without power and around 115,000 households without water.

During the storm, the TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) system — a critical communications network used by emergency responders — suffered temporary disruptions. This made coordination between agencies difficult and delayed responses to some medical emergencies.

Although upgrades to the system were already in progress, the failures during Storm Éowyn prompted the Government to accelerate the rollout of new mission-critical communications technology.

This week, a series of simulated emergency exercises are taking place in Westport, testing the new infrastructure under real-world conditions. The system is designed to ensure that emergency services remain connected even when mobile networks are congested or down.

The new network operates through Vodafone’s infrastructure, and future phases will include direct satellite connectivity, ensuring 999 and 112 calls can reach emergency responders even in remote or network-dead areas.

Vodafone Ireland CEO Sabrina Casalta said the company is proud to contribute to an initiative that places Ireland at the forefront of emergency communications innovation. She highlighted that the new system integrates mobile and satellite technology to improve data transfer and reliability.

Barry Lowry, the Government’s Chief Information Officer, explained that the upgrade replaces older TETRA “walkie-talkie style” devices with smartphone-enabled systems, allowing responders to share data, video, and voice in real time. He confirmed that the system has already been successfully tested across air, sea, and land scenarios, with positive feedback from participants.

Minister Jack Chambers, responsible for Public Expenditure and Digitalisation, said the initiative supports the State’s goal of building a safer, more resilient Ireland. He added that new satellite hubs will be installed on offshore islands — beginning with Inishturk later this year — to ensure continuous connectivity between island communities and the mainland.

Officials from several European countries are also observing the Mayo trials as part of an EU-wide effort to modernise and future-proof emergency communication systems across member states.

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