Objectives of the service
SKYS.O.S. addresses the need to ensure that emergency requests can be created, transmitted and delivered towards the 112 / PSAP chain in operational conditions where terrestrial communication and localization capabilities may be unavailable, insufficient or degraded.
The service supports the creation of an emergency case following a manual SOS trigger, including the association of the latest available position estimate and the generation of a structured minimum set of emergency information required for operational handling.
The system implements an end-to-end service chain integrating connected devices, terrestrial communication networks and space-enabled assets with a central Relay Center platform. The Relay Center ensures validation, persistence and forwarding of the emergency case towards the competent 112 / PSAP system according to the applicable delivery profile.
In conditions of limited or unavailable terrestrial connectivity, the service maintains delivery capability through automatic use of an alternative NTN bearer and controlled retry mechanisms, ensuring continuity of the emergency-case transfer without requiring further user action.
The objective of the demonstration activity is to verify the end-to-end emergency-case handling across the defined service chain, including case creation, transmission, Relay Center interoperability, delivery towards the 112 / PSAP chain and position information forwarding, under representative operational conditions.
Through integration, verification and pilot activities, the project provides evidence of system behavior, performance and operational suitability, supporting the transition towards a pre-operational service baseline for deployment in public safety contexts.
Users and their needs
The SKYS.O.S. service targets user communities involved in safety, emergency management and outdoor operations, operating in environments where reliability, coverage and timely exchange of information are critical.
The primary users include public emergency and response operators responsible for handling emergency cases and coordinating response actions, as well as personnel operating in outdoor, remote or complex environments. The service also involves institutional stakeholders responsible for public safety and emergency coordination at local and regional levels.
The targeted users are primarily located in European countries, with initial activities focused on Italy.
The key user needs addressed by the service include:
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creation and transmission of emergency cases in environments with limited or disrupted terrestrial coverage;
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availability of a position estimate and associated emergency information for operational handling;
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interoperability with existing emergency management workflows and systems, including the 112 / PSAP chain;
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availability of consistent and structured information to support operational decision-making;
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continuity of service under challenging operational conditions, including degraded or unavailable terrestrial connectivity;
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reduced complexity for end users during emergency situations.
The demonstration supports the validation of these needs through operational testing and interaction with representative users in real or simulated scenarios.
Service/ system concept
The SKYS.O.S. service provides an integrated capability for the creation, transmission and handling of emergency cases generated through manual SOS activation in outdoor and complex operational environments.
The system is based on connected field devices used by people or assets. Following a manual SOS trigger, the device creates an emergency case including a structured minimum set of information, such as event identification, timestamp and latest available position estimate, and initiates transmission through the available communication bearer.
Communication is performed through the preferred terrestrial network and, when terrestrial connectivity is unavailable, insufficient or degraded, is automatically continued through an alternative NTN bearer without requiring further user action.
The emergency case is routed to a central Relay Center platform, which performs validation, persistence, orchestration and forwarding towards the competent 112 / PSAP chain according to the applicable delivery profile. The Relay Center ensures controlled interoperability with public emergency infrastructures and consistent handling of the emergency case across the service chain.
The overall architecture follows an end-to-end approach from device to destination system, including case generation, transmission, Relay Center processing and delivery to emergency operators, with associated delivery-status handling and traceability.
The service is designed to support emergency-case handling under representative operational conditions, including limited or degraded terrestrial connectivity, while maintaining a simple interaction model for the end user.
Space Added Value
The SKYS.O.S. service leverages space-enabled assets to support emergency-case handling in operational conditions where terrestrial communication and localization infrastructures may be unavailable, insufficient or degraded.
Two distinct space-enabled capabilities are used within the system architecture. Satellite-based positioning (GNSS) is used to provide the latest available position estimate associated with the emergency case, supporting position forwarding towards the 112 / PSAP chain.
In addition, Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity is used as an alternative communication bearer. When terrestrial connectivity is unavailable, insufficient or degraded, the system automatically continues transmission of the emergency case through the NTN bearer without requiring further user action, preserving delivery capability towards the Relay Center and the 112 / PSAP chain.
The integration of terrestrial and space-enabled communication paths supports continuity of the emergency-case transfer across heterogeneous operational environments, including remote, mountainous and coverage-constrained areas.
Within this architecture, space assets act as an integrated enabler of position availability and communication continuity, without modifying the end-to-end service chain, which remains based on Relay Center interoperability and delivery towards the competent 112 / PSAP system.
Compared with terrestrial-only approaches, this combined use of GNSS and NTN capabilities extends operational coverage and preserves emergency-case delivery under constrained-connectivity conditions, supporting the execution of the service in representative pilot environments.
Current Status
Following the successful completion of the Baseline Design Review (BDR) held on 22 January 2026, the SKYS.O.S. project has progressed in accordance with the approved project plan.
The project is currently undergoing the consolidation of user requirements and system architecture, in preparation for the transition to the development and system testing phases.
In parallel, initial Product Development activities have been initiated, including hardware, firmware and mechanical design, supporting the implementation of the SKYS.O.S. system.
The Critical Design Review (CDR) is currently in progress, with the system baseline being refined and review action items under consolidation.
Project activities also include engagement in representative operational environments relevant to the SKYS.O.S. service, including outdoor and mountain contexts characterized by limited or variable terrestrial coverage, supporting validation scenarios and alignment with real operational conditions.
In addition, the consortium is participating in European safety initiatives, including the EENA Conference to be held in April, to support interaction with stakeholders and alignment with public safety operational frameworks.
The consortium will subsequently proceed with system integration and validation activities, followed by deployment in representative operational environments in collaboration with end users.
No schedule deviations have been identified and the project remains aligned with the approved Project Bar Chart.
