Is Your Telecom Infrastructure Ready for Next-Generation E911 Capabilities?

Enhanced 911 (sometimes called Next Generation 911 or NG911) is particularly helpful in pinpointing a caller’s exact location so that emergency services can be dispatched to their location quicker. However, the technology involved differs from the past, so it is important to ensure your telecom infrastructure can seamlessly mesh with this tech.

Understanding NG911: What Sets it Apart

First and foremost, it’s important to understand NG911 and why it’s so beneficial. In 2005, the FCC demanded that all Voice Over Internet Protocol providers (VoIP) needed to give their customers reliable access to emergency services, typically in the form of a 911 call. However, the 911 system was designed to be used by landline phones, which allowed larger telecom giants to impede access to the 911 systems, which was rectified in 2008. How NG911 works, though, is by tying a physical address to a distinct phone number (usually linked when you sign up for a phone or get a phone from an employer). Beyond this, four main aspects of NG911 set it apart from the previous system:

Text Messaging Capabilities

Perhaps the greatest improvement of NG911 over the past is its ability to allow a user to send text messages to emergency services rather than making a call. This means that if a person is in a dangerous situation or otherwise unable to speak on their phone, they can still get help sent their way by simply sending a text.

Multimedia

Building off of the prior point, NG911 also allows those contacting emergency services to utilize multimedia services, such as sending videos. This can be particularly helpful when documenting a crime or attempting to explain what is occurring to the emergency service worker who is speaking with a person.

Improved Location Accuracy

People today are quite busy, which means we aren’t always at the physical address linked to our phone numbers. Fortunately, NG911 uses WiFi and Bluetooth so that even if you are on the go and contacting emergency services, they will be able to pinpoint your relative location quickly and efficiently.

Internet Protocol (IP) Based

Finally, the last item that makes NG911 stand out from its predecessor is that it’s Internet Protocol-based. This means that all of the issues with the previous analog version, such as phone lines being too crowded for calls to go through, servers crashing, or other issues, will be things of the past. While IP-based systems can certainly have their own issues, they are a far cry from those seen on the analog version.

Key Components of a Next-Generation E911 Ready Infrastructure

Beyond the above features, which make the E911 system stand out from its prior iteration, there are a few major components of the system to be aware of:

Data Handling and Transmission

There’s a common misconception with E911 that there’s a chip in your phone handling data and the transmission of that data. This system operates similarly to the emergency wireless alert system in that it’s a one-way road, only tracking your location if you’re allowed to contact emergency services. In addition, there is no GPS in your phone that transmits the data; instead, it listens to satellites and then determines your approximate position by pinging off the nearest one. It is not a transmitting device; rather, it is only a receiver, which makes a significant difference from a cybersecurity standpoint.

Enhanced Security Protocols

Given that sensitive data will be given to emergency responders when you are contacting them, it’s only natural to wonder about the security of NG911. There are a myriad of cybersecurity protocols in place that protect against attacks on devices and equipment, the network infrastructure and connections, along with the broad data, applications, and servers involved. This means that texts, calls, and other forms of messaging are always secure and constantly monitored for hints of attacks.

Steps to Prepare Your Telecom Infrastructure for NG911

Clearly, the Next Generation 911 system offers many benefits to individuals around the country. The last thing you want to do is accidentally violate a law or impede on that system, so ensuring your telecom infrastructure can mesh with this technology is crucial. Utilize the following steps to be confident you are ready and able to foster this system as it continues to be developed and rolled out:

Conduct a Readiness Assessment

Firstly, you will need to conduct a readiness assessment of your system. This assessment will simply test whether your technology is capable of supporting the NG911 system’s operation and will help you identify any gaps that may need to be adjusted. The self-assessment tool offered by the NG911 platform itself can be used, or an individual test can be designed as well.

Upgrade to IP-Based Systems

If your organization is not already using upgraded, IP-based systems, now is an excellent excuse to switch. So many companies have already transitioned over due to the increased security measures and greater operating efficiencies, and if you are not, then you are missing out. While this can cost a lot of money to overhaul for your business completely, the benefits are more than worth it in the long run.

Strengthen Cybersecurity Measures

Preparing for the NG911 system should also involve bolstering your cybersecurity measures to align with their standards. While cybersecurity should be a top priority anyway already, this serves as a poignant opportunity to enhance your network. Begin implementing two-factor authentication automatic network scanning for viruses, and start training your workforce to recognize the signs of a cyberattack.

Prepare your telecom infrastructure for the future today

Emergency service alerts and the ability to contact emergency services professionals are of the utmost importance. All businesses need to ensure that their telecom infrastructure is capable of handling the technology the NG911 or E911 system uses. If your business is located in the Columbus, Akron, or Cleveland areas and needs assistance understanding how to comply with these systems or getting your infrastructure set up to work with NG911, reach out to us at Warwick right away for all your needs.