Canada's 911 Network Needs Emergency Overhaul
APCO/NENA delegates told Canada's 911 system not ready for 21st century
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA, ON, Canada - November 19, 2008 - Hundreds of delegates attending the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Conference in Ottawa today were told that Canada’s 911 system is in need of a major overhaul if it is to be relevant in the 21st Century. The current 911 network in Canada was described as “outdated” and unable to keep up with changing technology.
“Our emergency number system is itself in need of some emergency attention,” says Allan Zander, Vice President of SolaCom Technologies, a Gatineau-based emergency communications software company. “Simply put, the current system has not kept pace with technology. Most 911 Centres in Canada still cannot pinpoint the exact location of a cell phone call, and none of them can deal directly with a call from a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone,” says Zander.
In Canada Phase One of Enhanced 911, which provides the exact location of a landline call, and the location of the nearest cell phone tower, is only available in some parts of some provinces. Phase Two of Enhanced 911, which provides for the EXACT location of cell phone calls, using xy tower coordinates, or GPS technology, is not fully deployed anywhere in Canada. Next Generation 911, currently being deployed across the United States, allows 911 Centres to accept video and text messaging and automatically transmit that information to rescuers in the field. It also allows for information sharing and simultaneous coordination between different public safety agencies. Next Generation 911 isn’t even on the radar in Canada.
Delegates to the APCO/NENA “Partners in Communication” Conference at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa, were told that the disparity between Canada and the United States is ironic, given that much of the latest communications technology is being developed here in Canada and then sold south of the border.
At the APCO/NENA Conference, SolaCom Technologies of Gatineau, QC, officially announced that its latest call-taking product Guardian, is now able to receive SMS text messages and video. The heightened capability is in addition to dynamic name and location display, and enhanced call management.
“Canadian companies like SolaCom are developing sophisticated public safety communications solutions. These solutions allow 911 Centres to keep up with the consumer’s adoption of new communication devices and keep up with the ever-increasing complexities of public safety response,” says Zander. “Unfortunately these solutions are not being implemented in Canada.”
In remarks to introduce Mr. Paul Godin, Director General, Competition, Costing & Tariffs, of the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Mr. Bernard Lord, President and CEO of Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), and Mr. Gregory Rhodes, Executive Director of the E911 Institute, Zander called for a partnership between governments, the public safety industry, and Canadian consumers to push for 911 updates and upgrades.
“If 911 is to be the cornerstone of our public safety system, we need to make sure it’s ready for the way we communicate in the 21st Century”.
About SolaCom
A privately held corporation headquartered in Canada's national capital region, SolaCom Technologies, Inc. has acquired more than 25 years of knowledge and experience engineering some of the world's most reliable critical communication systems. With the structure and broad expertise to execute customized solutions into a powerful set of communication tools, SolaCom enables interoperability over any network infrastructure in air traffic control, homeland security, public networks, military C4I, marine communication, emergency response, and other mission-critical applications.
For further information
Allan Zander
(613) 693-0641
azander@solacom.com
Antonio Cassandra
(613) 693-0641 x297
acassandra@solacom.com
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