One topic is becoming increasingly important across all forms of critical communication: the use of standardized communication protocols.
In environments where safety, reliability, and interoperability are non-negotiable – such as telecare, building safety, and emergency response – communication standards are not just a technical preference. They are a prerequisite for resilience, scalability, and long-term sustainability.
Standards play a crucial role in ensuring systems can evolve without becoming locked into proprietary technologies.
At iotcomms.io we work daily with standard protocols for critical communication. For example TS 50134-9 (also known as SCAIP) and SIA for alarm handling, and SIP & WebRTC for voice and video communication. We are now seeing concrete signs that solution providers are exploring the move to a more standards-based communication infrastructure
One example is TS 50134-9 (or SCAIP – Social Care Alarm Internet Protocol). Traditionally, TS 50134-9 has been closely associated with the telecare sector, enabling reliable, IP-based alarm signaling between care alarm devices and Alarm Receiving Centers (ARCs). Its role has been particularly critical as the industry transitions away from analog infrastructure toward digital, interoperable systems.
What we are now seeing, however, are early indications that TS 50134-9 is being introduced beyond its original telecare context, more specifically into elevator alarm applications. While this adoption is still emerging, it reflects a broader industry trend: organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of reusing proven, standardized alarm communication protocols across different safety-critical domains instead of relying on proprietary or siloed solutions.
Alarm is only one part of the picture. Emergency voice – and increasingly video – communication is becoming a fundamental requirement in many critical environments, from elevators and public buildings to remote assistance and monitoring centers. Here, well-established standards such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and WebRTC play a crucial role.
SIP provides a robust, widely supported foundation for real-time voice communication, while WebRTC enables secure, browser-based voice and video without specialized client software. Together, they allow emergency communication systems to integrate seamlessly with modern cloud platforms, contact centers, and monitoring services – while remaining interoperable and future-proof.
The common thread across TS 50134-9 (SCAIP), SIA, SIP, and WebRTC is clear: standardization reduces complexity, lowers integration risk, and ensures that critical communication systems can evolve over time rather than becoming locked into proprietary technologies.
At iotcomms.io, standardized communication protocols are the foundation in our cloud-based services. Our expertise spans alarm signaling, voice, and real-time media communication, helping organizations design and deploy solutions that are interoperable, resilient, and ready for what comes next.
As critical communication continues to expand beyond traditional boundaries, choosing open, standardized protocols is no longer optional – it is essential.
If this is a topic you are currently navigating, we welcome the conversation. Sharing experiences, lessons learned, and practical insights across the industry is one of the most effective ways to strengthen critical communication ecosystems.
Talk to us about how we can help you build standards-based critical communication.
Start the conversation here.
