Exploring the Future of Emergency Technology at the NEC

The Emergency Tech Show 2026 will bring together emergency service leaders, technology providers, digital specialists and operational decision-makers to explore how technology can improve public safety and frontline response.

The event takes place on 16 and 17 September 2026 in Hall 5 at the NEC Birmingham. It will be open from 09:00 to 17:30 on Wednesday and 09:00 to 16:00 on Thursday, with free registration available for visitors. (The NEC)

Designed for professionals working across police, fire and rescue, ambulance, resilience and local authorities, the show will focus on technology that can address real operational requirements. Key areas include communications, data, cybersecurity, mobile systems, command and control, digital evidence and interoperability. (Emergency Tech Show)

The Emergency Tech Show is also co-located with The Emergency Services Show, giving visitors access to both events and a wider range of equipment, technology, demonstrations and industry expertise. (Emergency Tech Show)

Emergency Services Are Becoming More Connected

Emergency service teams increasingly rely on connected technology to gather information, communicate with colleagues and manage resources.

Connected devices may include:

• GPS trackers and vehicle telematics
• Body-worn and vehicle-mounted cameras
• Mobile data terminals
• Environmental monitoring sensors
• Lone-worker devices
• Rugged tablets and laptops
• Remote medical equipment
• Drones and robotic systems
• Temporary CCTV installations
• Mobile command and control equipment

Each device may have a different purpose, but they all depend on data being transferred between the field and an authorised central system.

A tracker may only need to send small location updates, while a camera or mobile command unit may require greater bandwidth. The correct connectivity solution must therefore consider the type of equipment, expected data usage, operating environment and level of security required.

Reliable Connectivity for Frontline Technology

Emergency service equipment may be used across city centres, rural communities, motorways, temporary incident locations and major public events.

Mobile coverage can vary considerably between these environments. A network that performs well at a station or headquarters may provide weaker coverage when a team travels to a remote location.

M2M Data Connect provides multi-network IoT SIM connectivity, allowing compatible devices to access multiple mobile networks rather than relying entirely on one operator. This can provide more connectivity options for devices that move between different locations. (M2M Data Connect)

Multi-network connectivity can support applications such as:

• Emergency response vehicles
• Mobile command centres
• GPS and asset-tracking devices
• Temporary surveillance systems
• Remote sensors
• Portable communication equipment
• Public-safety infrastructure
• Equipment operating across several regions

The complete solution should always be designed around the operational and resilience requirements of the individual emergency service.

Connected Emergency Vehicles

Police cars, ambulances, fire appliances and specialist response vehicles increasingly operate as mobile workspaces.

A suitable vehicle router can provide connectivity for authorised equipment such as laptops, tablets, cameras, tracking systems and telematics units.

Connected vehicle technology can help control teams access information including:

• Vehicle location
• Journey and route information
• Equipment status
• Mileage and engine data
• Connectivity performance
• Maintenance notifications
• Arrival and departure times
• Mobile workforce activity

M2M Data Connect supplies ruggedised router options designed for vehicle and industrial IoT environments. Available equipment includes 4G and 5G routers with remote management, GPS functionality and support for multiple connectivity options. (M2M Data Connect)

GPS and Asset Tracking

Emergency services manage large numbers of vehicles, tools and specialist assets.

Connected GPS trackers can help organisations monitor the location and movement of vehicles, trailers, generators, medical equipment and other valuable resources.

Depending on the tracking solution, devices may report:

• Current location
• Journey history
• Speed and movement
• Geofence activity
• Battery condition
• Unexpected movement
• Device tampering
• Equipment usage

The GPS component identifies the location of the tracker, while the IoT SIM enables the device to transmit that information to an authorised management platform. (M2M Data Connect)

This can give teams greater visibility over where equipment is located and help identify whether resources are available, in use or outside an approved area.

Cameras and Digital Evidence

The Emergency Tech Show will explore technologies relating to digital evidence, data sharing and body-worn video. Its programme includes sessions discussing how connected video can support operational visibility, control rooms and future learning. (Emergency Tech Show)

Camera connectivity requirements can vary significantly.

A device that only transmits occasional images or event notifications may require relatively little data. A system streaming live, high-resolution footage may need a much larger allowance and stronger network performance.

When planning camera connectivity, organisations should consider:

• Number of connected cameras
• Video resolution
• Length and frequency of transmissions
• Whether live streaming is required
• Storage and cloud integration
• Remote access requirements
• Expected monthly data consumption
• Security and access controls

Fixed IP connectivity may also be appropriate where authorised teams require remote access to cameras, routers or recording equipment.

Remote and Environmental Monitoring

Connected sensors can provide information from locations where it may be difficult, dangerous or inefficient to keep staff permanently present.

Potential emergency and resilience applications include:

• Flood and water-level monitoring
• Air-quality monitoring
• Temperature and humidity sensors
• Smoke and fire detection
• Structural monitoring
• Weather stations
• Generator and power monitoring
• Equipment storage conditions
• Building alarms
• Remote health-monitoring equipment

Sensors can send information at scheduled intervals or generate an alert when a predefined threshold is reached.

Many sensor applications only transmit small amounts of data. This can make low-data IoT plans suitable for devices that need to operate remotely over extended periods.

Secure Communication and Remote Access

Emergency service devices may transmit sensitive information relating to personnel, vehicles, incidents, locations and operational activity.

Connectivity must therefore be configured to limit unauthorised access and control how devices communicate with external platforms.

Depending on the project, M2M Data Connect can provide:

• Private APN connectivity
• Fixed public or private IP addresses
• IPsec VPN integration
• Restricted internet access
• IP whitelisting
• SIM-to-SIM communication
• Usage limits and alerts
• Access to approved applications only

A private APN can provide a separate environment for a group of connected SIMs, while VPN integration can create a protected connection between remote equipment and an organisation’s authorised network. (M2M Data Connect)

The final configuration should be developed alongside the organisation’s own security, data-protection and operational policies.

Temporary Incident Connectivity

Major incidents, public events and temporary response locations may require connectivity before fixed communications infrastructure is available.

A 4G or 5G router can create a temporary connection for approved devices, helping teams access operational platforms and cloud-based services from the location.

Mobile connectivity may support:

• Temporary command centres
• Public events
• Emergency planning exercises
• Recovery centres
• Remote response locations
• Mobile offices
• Temporary healthcare facilities
• Sites awaiting fixed-line installation

Cellular connectivity can also be used as a backup to fixed broadband. With compatible equipment, the router may switch to mobile data when the primary service becomes unavailable.

Centralised IoT Management

Managing connected equipment across multiple departments, vehicles and locations requires clear visibility.

M2M Data Connect provides connectivity management tools that can bring SIM and device information into one central platform.

Depending on the chosen service, organisations can:

• Activate or suspend SIMs
• Monitor data consumption
• Create usage limits and alerts
• Review connection activity
• Organise SIMs by team, vehicle or location
• Identify unusual data usage
• Investigate inactive devices
• Apply SIM and device controls
• Manage connections from multiple providers
• Export usage reports

Centralised management can help technical teams identify potential issues remotely and maintain greater control as the number of connected devices increases. (M2M Data Connect)

Preparing for the Future of Emergency Technology

The Emergency Tech Show 2026 will showcase more than 150 exhibitors and over 5,000 technology solutions, with live demonstrations, expert-led sessions and opportunities to discuss the practical use of technology across emergency services. (Emergency Tech Show)

As emergency response becomes more digital, the connectivity supporting vehicles, cameras, sensors, trackers and mobile equipment will become increasingly important.

M2M Data Connect provides secure, scalable and managed IoT connectivity for a wide range of remote and mobile applications. Whether an organisation needs to connect one specialist device or manage a larger estate across multiple locations, the correct IoT solution can help keep equipment visible, accessible and under control.

Contact M2M Data Connect to discuss IoT connectivity for emergency technology, mobile response equipment and remote monitoring applications.