The Zetron Blog: Z-Wire

For years, conversations about control room technology have centred on replacement.

Replacing legacy systems. Replacing networks. Replacing infrastructure.

Today, that conversation is changing.

The control room has evolved more in the last five years than it did in the previous twenty. Emergency services are responding to increasing demand, more complex incidents and greater public expectation, while preparing for one of the biggest technology transitions in a generation through the Emergency Services Network (ESN).

Every call into a police control room matters. But not every call carries the same level of threat, harm or risk. As police forces continue to face growing demand, increasingly complex incidents and ongoing resource pressures, the ability to quickly assess and prioritise calls has never been more important. That’s why THRIVE has become such a fundamental part of modern policing.

THRIVE, which stands for Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability and Engagement, provides a structured framework that helps call handlers and dispatchers assess incidents consistently and make informed decisions about the most appropriate response.

Critical Communications World (CCW) 2026 brought together public safety agencies, critical infrastructure operators, government bodies, technology providers and communications specialists from across the globe to discuss the future of mission critical communications.

One of the most encouraging aspects of this year’s event was the spirit of collaboration across the critical communications community. Whether discussing national broadband programmes, interoperability standards or emerging technologies, organisations were openly sharing lessons learned, challenges and best practice.