Minister Frank Feighan showcases Ireland’s new communications technology for emergency responders at the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona

Minister of State Frank Feighan, with responsibility for Public Procurement, E-Government and Digitalisation and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation are delighted to be participating at the Mobile World Congress 2026 (MWC26), one of the world’s largest and most influential industry events for mobile communications and technology. At this significant event organised by the GSMA, the Department, along with its partners including AMD, Amarisoft, AW2S, Cisco, Druid Software, Eutelsat and Qualcomm will contribute to the ‘Airport of the Future’ programme. Here, they will be demonstrating advanced aviation‑based communications platforms recently implemented in Ireland by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) for Public Protection and Disaster Response (PPDR).

As part of this exhibition, the Department will showcase the use of airborne 4G and 5G connectivity devices, which are made available in Ireland in emergency situations to deliver resilient, wide‑area connectivity for emergency responders during major incidents and multi‑agency operations where required. These capabilities were successfully trialled during the large‑scale, multi‑agency, multinational PPDR demonstration held in Westport, Co. Mayo, in September 2025.

Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment Frank Feighan attending the event, said:

‘A key priority for this Government is to continue the modernisation and digitalisation of Ireland’s public services, including through improved digital infrastructure. What we are showcasing is an exciting example of one way that my Department and the OGCIO are working to achieve this. High quality digital infrastructure such as this groundbreaking communications technology means that first-responders can get the information they need during major incidents to ensure the public’s safety. I am very proud to be exhibiting this at the MWC.’

This work directly supports and aligns with the vision of the European Critical Communication System (EUCCS) - the EU‑wide initiative to establish a secure, interoperable mobile broadband communication system for public safety agencies by 2030. EUCCS aims to enhance cross‑border operational mobility, shared situational awareness, and the resilience of Europe’s communications infrastructure for crisis response. It is being developed through a series of major European programmes (BroadMap, BroadWay, and BroadEU.Net) involving over 15 Member States and Schengen partners, all working to ensure mission‑critical mobile standards and seamless interconnection across borders.

In participating at MWC26, the Department is demonstrating technologies that fully complement EUCCS’s long‑term ambition to deliver a unified, secure, and future‑proof communications framework for Europe’s emergency services.