The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is making good on a promise to mandate enhanced 911 services on mobile phones, by requiring carriers to track the location of all 911 calls by Feb. 1, 2010.

“The safety and security of Canadians will be greatly improved as a result,” said Konrad von Finckenstein, in a statement yesterday. “With more than 20 million wireless subscribers in Canada, it is imperative that emergency responders can quickly and accurately locate those who use their cellphones to call 911.”

In recent years, a number of Canadians have died after making untraceable 911 calls on their mobile phones. The new regulations will require wireless carriers to enhance cellular triangulation so as to better pinpoint 911 calls.

The CRTC can require Canadian carriers to make emergency services available but does not regulate the fees charged for such services, meaning that monthly 911 access fees may increase as a result of this decision.