When most people think about calling 9-1-1, they picture a simple, direct connection between their phone and the local emergency dispatch center — if they even think about it at all. In reality, most people don't give it a second thought — they simply expect it to work. Behind the scenes, that connection to 9-1-1 has relied for decades on a patchwork of legacy telephone infrastructure — reliable in its time, but increasingly unable to keep up with today’s demands for speed, data, and resilience.
In our State of the 9-1-1 Industry Report, Lauren Kravetz and John Snapp extensively covered Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) and Emergency Services IP Networks (ESInets), which are the heart of NG9-1-1. ESInets provide secure, dedicated transport for emergency communications traffic by replacing aging copper-based 9-1-1 infrastructure with modern, high-capacity IP networks built specifically for public safety.
These networks alleviate many of the limitations of legacy 9-1-1 systems (including the lack of speed, interoperability, and data capabilities) while offering more flexible, resilient emergency communications. They also open the door to NG9-1-1 “i3” capabilities from the primary technical standard for
NG9-1-1 — capabilities that deliver marked improvements and powerful features for both public safety answering points (PSAPs) and the communities they serve.
This is more than just a technology upgrade for local public safety agencies; it’s a transformative shift in how communities receive help when they need it most. An ESInet could save your life.
Download the full whitepaper to learn more.