How do I connect to ECHO?
All approved Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) recognised by the police, and holding Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus are eligible to use the ECHO platform when it comes on stream. (Please see: www.cyberessentials.ncsc.gov.uk for further information.)
All UK alarm handling software providers have details of the ECHO interface specification and are at varying stages of interface development. ARCs can check with their providers to confirm the current status of the development.
ECHO is interconnected with the BT Redcare platform and CSL’s Gemini Global platform. These existing connections will be used to connect ARCs’ alarm handling systems and the ECHO platform.
During 2020, all ARCs will receive an automated email invitation from ECHO to commence the ECHO onboarding process using a secure online ECHO portal. ECHO will review all applications and successful applicants will be asked to complete and sign-up to the ECHO contract terms and conditions for the provision of the ECHO service.
ECHO is continuing to work with police forces to connect to their control rooms. As and when these are connected (following the launch of the ECHO service), all contracted ARCs will be able to see (via their portal) which police forces are linked, and ready to receive automated alarm signals. The ECHO website will also be updated with details of ARCs and police forces connected to ECHO.
As each police force is connected in the coming months, ARCs will receive an automated email informing them of the situation and requesting them to declare the number of URNs they have registered with the force in question. This will form the basis of billing fees due for the ECHO Service.
The onboarding of ARCs with ECHO for each police force service will be completed once ECHO has confirmation a payment has been made for the service being provided, whereupon service will commence. In order to keep administration costs to a minimum, ECHO is considering appointing certification bodies to manage ECHO annual billings to and payments from their approved ARCs.