Vodafone Ireland has announced the launch of Real-Time Text (RTT), a breakthrough accessibility service designed to improve emergency communications for the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Vodafone Ireland is the first mobile operator in Ireland to introduce RTT, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive, barrier-free digital communication and connection. The service is now available for emergency calls following pilot tests on the Vodafone network supported by BT ECAS and ComReg.
RTT is a next-generation messaging technology that enables text to be transmitted instantly, character by character, while maintaining a voice connection – eliminating the need to press “send.” This creates a more natural, fluid communication experience, particularly for deaf, hard of hearing, and speech-impaired users.
Vodafone Ireland customers using both Android and iOS devices can now activate Real-Time Text (RTT) directly via their handset accessibility settings. Once enabled, RTT allows users to send and receive text instantly during a call – making communication more accessible, especially for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Crucially, RTT is fully compatible with Ireland’s Emergency Call Answering Service, allowing users to communicate directly with 112 or 999 in real time. This capability can be lifesaving in urgent situations where every second counts.
Approximately 5%, almost 270,000, of the Irish population reports a hearing impairment, according to latest Census data. With the European Accessibility Act coming into effect last month, the need for inclusive digital communication has never been more urgent and RTT is a vital step forward in ensuring equal access for all, especially in critical services like emergency response.
Chief Executive of Vodafone Ireland, Sabrina Casalta, said: “At Vodafone Ireland, we’re committed to keeping everyone connected – our mission is to ensure digital access and connectivity for everyone, everywhere. RTT represents a significant step forward in digital accessibility, especially in emergency scenarios where real-time communication can save lives. We are proud to be the first in Ireland and one of the leaders in Europe to bring this innovative service to market, that we believe can change lives for the better. The RTT launch has been developed in partnership with government stakeholders, accessibility advocates, and emergency response teams. Vodafone’s RTT deployment places Ireland at the forefront of inclusive tech innovation in Europe.”
Speaking at the launch, Mark Byrne, CEO of Chime, Ireland’s national charity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people said: “Chime is excited to see Vodafone Ireland leading the way in ensuring crucial accessibility to emergency services through its RTT service. We know this is a major challenge for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who face barriers in reaching emergency services when they need to.
We commend Vodafone for gathering important feedback from Irish Sign Language users on the RTT, ensuring inclusivity for everyone. We hope to see further investment and expansion of digital accessibility across the communications sector in Ireland.”
Vodafone is Ireland’s leading total communications provider with 2.4 million customers and employs over 2,000 people directly and indirectly in Ireland. Next year, Vodafone Ireland will mark 25 years in Ireland. Vodafone Ireland was recently named Ireland’s best mobile operator for the 10th year in a row by independent benchmarking organisation, umlaut. Vodafone Ireland was also recognised as Best in Reliability, Best in Voice, and Best in Crowdsourced Reliability.
