E-Comm says it is transitioning from analog 9-1-1 to NG9-1-1 on a phased schedule across B.C., with Vancouver Island communities first to go live in 2026.
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E-Comm, British Columbia’s primary emergency communications provider, announced it is beginning a phased migration of its 9-1-1 infrastructure to the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) network. The transition is intended to replace Canada’s “decades-old analog infrastructure” with a new digital system, as part of B.C.’s broader move toward modernized emergency telecommunications.
According to E-Comm, the migration over the next two months will transition from the historical analog 9-1-1 system to NG9-1-1 in the regions where E-Comm provides service as the first point of contact for 99% of 9-1-1 callers in B.C. E-Comm said communities on Vancouver Island were the first to “go-live” on NG9-1-1 as part of the phased project.
E-Comm expects staggered migrations between now and the end of November 2026, using phases to support “safe, reliable implementation” while prioritizing continuity of 9-1-1 service during emergencies. The announcement framed the work as both an immediate upgrade and a foundation for future features designed to improve public and first-responder safety.
The provider said the migration will be mostly invisible to the public, adding that people will still be able to dial 9-1-1 as usual and will be connected with emergency call-takers based on their needs. E-Comm also said the upgrade sets the stage for enhancements such as real-time-text to 9-1-1, more accurate caller location information, and the ability to share streaming video.
E-Comm stated those advanced features will not be part of the initial transition in 2026. Instead, their rollout is reportedly dependent on a national timeline yet to be determined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
Among the practical changes E-Comm says the public will notice is the introduction of an automated callback system. The new NG9-1-1 network is described as being able to detect calls including those that are disconnected within milliseconds and not received by E-Comm today, a capability that E-Comm said may lead to an increase in accidental or “pocket” dials.
E-Comm said the callback feature is meant to help manage that higher volume by automatically following up on quick hang-up calls. The organization said the changes are supported by $150 million in provincial funding for the technology upgrade, including $90 million for E-Comm’s implementation.
Scope and significance for British Columbians, including residents of Vancouver Island where the transition began, is that the change is designed to keep 9-1-1 service working normally while upgrading the underlying network capacity for future capabilities. The added callback mechanism may affect how some disconnected calls are handled, even as E-Comm emphasizes that dialing 9-1-1 will continue to operate in the familiar way.
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