The EENA Conference & Exhibition 2026 officially opens today, bringing together more than 700 participants from across the global public safety and mission-critical communications ecosystem.

Over the next three days, the event will serve as a key platform for stakeholders—including emergency service authorities, policymakers, technology providers, and network operators—to address the most pressing challenges and innovations shaping the future of emergency communications.

This year’s conference begins with two high-impact keynote sessions focused on transformative developments in mission-critical connectivity.

The opening keynote, delivered by the European Space Agency, explores the growing importance of satellite direct-to-device connectivity for emergency communications. As terrestrial networks face increasing pressure from natural disasters, infrastructure failures, and capacity limitations, satellite-enabled communication is emerging as a vital layer for ensuring uninterrupted access to emergency services. The discussion highlights what is at stake for Europe as it seeks to integrate space-based capabilities into next-generation public safety networks.

The second keynote addresses a critical and timely issue: the future of emergency calling in the post-2G/3G era. With legacy networks being phased out globally, public safety systems are encountering new operational risks and complexities. Insights from Australia—where recent large-scale incidents have exposed vulnerabilities linked to network transitions—underscore the urgent need for robust, interoperable, and future-proof communication infrastructures.

These opening sessions set the tone for a conference centered on resilience, interoperability, and innovation in mission-critical communications. Key themes throughout EENA 2026 include next-generation emergency services (NG112), broadband migration, cross-border interoperability, and the integration of emerging technologies such as satellite communications and IP-based systems.

As emergency communications continue to evolve, the event reinforces the importance of collaboration across the global ecosystem. By bringing together expertise from Europe and beyond, EENA 2026 aims to drive forward solutions that enhance the reliability, accessibility, and effectiveness of public safety communications in an increasingly complex risk environment.