Emerging Technologies for Crisis: Challenges for Applying 5G to Public Protection and Disaster Relief Scenarios

Communications is a key pillar of effective crisis management (emergencies, natural/industrial disasters, or terrorism), as it facilitates coordination between emergency responders and populations. At critical times, access to reliable and resilient networks must be relied upon. This paper focuses on public safety and in particular Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR), exploring challenges and opportunities for communication networks, analyzing emerging technologies, best practices, and areas for improvement. Challenges include maintaining connectivity during crises, network overload, ensuring inter-agency interoperability. Emerging technologies, such as Internet of Thing, sensors, and geo-location services, offer opportunities to ensure better emergency preparedness. Best practices include interagency coordination, information sharing, redundancy, public alert systems, awareness and training. The deployment of next-generation networks (e.g., 5G) promises greater data capacity, low latency, quality of service, and security, key features for public safety and effective emergency response.