Carriers provide mobile locations to 000

New regulations will see mobile carriers providing precise location information to emergency services to help locate people who can't identify where they are.

"The ACMA's new rules enable emergency service organisations to access the most precise location information that is currently available on the mobile networks and also to automatically capture the benefits from any future developments in location-based services offered by the mobile carriers," acting Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) chairman Richard Bean said in a statement.

Most callers who contact triple zero tell the operator where they are, but sometimes (estimated at less than 1 per cent of calls) the caller is too distressed or at a loss to pass on their location.

The new rules require carriers to provide the most precise location information they have available on a caller if asked by an emergency services organisation, with these requests to be classed as high priority and be given a dedicated process.

The function will start on 20 April 2011, which allows carriers time to trial their systems before making the information available to all emergency service organisations.

ACMA is also considering implementing a system to provide automatic provision of precise mobile location for mobile calls.

The new rules were created following consultation with mobile carriers and emergency services organisations.

However, AMCA cautioned Australians that mobile coverage is not ubiquitous and that having a mobile does not guarantee their being located in an emergency.