It is intended to replace the existing TETRA-based Airwave network in 2026, seven years after the original planned date of 2019.
The switch was intended to begin in 2017 and be completed in 2019 before the existing Airwave contract was set to expire.
In June 2015, O2 announced they would be pulling out the bidding process for providing mobile services which left only EE in negotiations.
[3] In January 2017, the Public Accounts Committee announced that the ESN might not be ready for its December 2019 deadline.
[7][8] In June 2022, a procurement request was issued for up to three suppliers of TETRA Encryption Algorithm 2 radio devices, and other maintenance services.