Next Generation 911

Next Generation 911, known as NG9-1-1, creates a faster, more flexible, resilient, scalable and modern 911 system. We need next-generation systems to keep pace with the trends in consumer communications habits, especially during emergencies.

For example, states reported to the National 911 Program (part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), that 76 percent of consumers are using wireless phones to make calls to 911 while 21 percent are using wireline phones1. As a result, most 911 systems now automatically report the telephone number and location of 911 calls made from wireline phones, a capability called Enhanced 9-1-1, or E9-1-1.

NG9-1-1 requires an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network to enable the transfer of voice calls and other data, such as photos, videos and text messages, to emergency responders.

The migration to an IP-based network means that information arrives at the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) as data. A PSAP is a contact center responsible for managing calls to police, fire and ambulance services. This means that 911 technologies at the PSAPs may need to be updated.

This signals a major shift for all levels of government, and the transition to NG9-1-1 technology is starting to move from the early adopter phase to the mainstream. Still, according to the 2015 National 911 Progress Report, only 14 percent of states have NG9-1-1 systems that are fully operational. And half of U.S. states hadn’t even started the transition.

911 service is vital to our nation’s emergency response and disaster preparedness system and it’s critical that we continue the efforts toward NG9-1-1 at both the state and local level.

NG9-1-1 Benefits and Features:

  • • Turnkey solution provided by a NG9-1-1 service provider with experience deploying statewide solutions
  • • Supports a more diverse set of IP-based communications and addresses many of the shortcomings of older 911 solutions. Standardized protocols provide more enhanced information about calls, callers and location than current E9-1-1 systems.
  • • Built on redundant core architecture with support for Public Safety Grade IP Networks and geographically diverse call-processing platforms. Networked PSAPs enable call overflow to be sent to other PSAPs. If a PSAP location goes down, all calls can be automatically routed to another PSAP.
  • • Aligned with National Emergency Number Association (NENA) i3 guidelines for functional and interface standards. The underlying i3 aligned architecture can support voice, video and text messages.
  • • Meets 99.999% uptime requirements for the Emergency Services IP (ESInet) core network, as well as all major next-generation core services elements.
12015 National 911 Progress Report published in February 2016 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.