Next Generation 911

The Next Generation 911 vision is being developed in response to the E911 needs of evolving technologies. It is vital that all participants in the 911 community, from telecommunications service providers to public safety entities, understand the intent of Next Generation 911 and prepare themselves for the inevitable. As several organizations, including the FCC and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), iron out the details, a clear picture has emerged of the overall intent and high-level design of Next Generation 911, as defined here. Understanding the direction and implementing its necessary steps will give service providers, public safety entities, and enterprises a leading edge.

Next Generation 911 is designed to meet the following objectives:

• E911 calls from any communications device
• A flexible, open, non-proprietary and secure architecture
• Standards-based interoperability in the US and internationally
• Operating and maintenance cost savings, reduced capital expenditures
• Additional information to PSAPs related to the location, such as floor plans, or caller, such as medical records, or emergency contact information
• Geographic independent call access, transfer, and back-up between PSAPs and other emergency organizations
• Routing decisions made at the time of the call based on most up-to-date location information
• Meet NENA i2 and i3 standards
• i2 – an interim solution leveraging existing 911 infrastructure
• i3 – a long-term solution based on full IP network connectivity

These objectives combine to ensure the ultimate goal of Next Generation 911: To improve the effectiveness of the nation’s emergency communications system and enhance public safety.

Legacy 911 systems use static circuit-switched routing and fixed physical trunks to transmit calls. Call routing is based on manually administered translation tables that employ a fixed one-to-one caller location to PSAP relationship. Limited in the types of communications technologies they can support, individual networks are inflexible, geographically dependant, and difficult to integrate with other 911 systems.

In contrast, Next Generation design uses IP technology to achieve the objectives of flexibility, geographic independence, and interoperability. Routing decisions are made dynamically at the time of the call based on automatically updated location information. Supporting all current and emerging technologies, NG design facilitates the easy transfer and back-up of calls between PSAPs.

Related Links:
Selecting a Next Generation E911 Provider