In Summary:
- This whitepaper examines the advantages and the disadvantages of three approaches to provisioning an emergency services Internet protocol network—which not only provides the foundation of a Next Generation 911 system, but also performs other important functions.
- Three ways exist to implement an ESInet: contract with a commercial entity or self-provision. A third model is a hybrid ESInet model.
- The path an agency uses can take two very different tasks, and each has its unique advantages and disadvantages. The path an agency chooses will depend heavily on its financial and IT resources, whether it can be coalesce regional support, and the level of commitment it can and is willing to lend to the project.
Background
Next Generation 911 (NG911) systems represent a quantum leap forward for the public-safety community and the citizens that it serves. Internet Protocol (IP)-based and broadband-enabled, such systems are capable of considerably more than legacy 911 systems—which is why many emergency communications centers (ECCs) from coast to coast are clamoring to implement them.
Three ways exist to implement an ESInet: contract with a commercial entity, such as a telecommunications service provider, to provision the network; self-provision it, which means that the network users would own, operate and maintain the network; or leverage a hybrid approach.
- Commercially Provisioned ESInets: In this model, a commercial entity controls all aspects of the network: hardware, software and connectivity, which nearly always is fiber-optic cable given the broadband requirements of NG911 systems.
- Self-Provisioned ESInets: In this model, the agency assumes responsibility for all aspects, i.e. financing, hardware and software deployment, governance, operation and maintenance, and network monitoring and troubleshooting.
- The hybrid ESInet: This is a hybrid model, which makes sense in some cases, especially as a means of avoiding network outages.
This whitepaper explores the advantages and disadvantages of these very different approaches. Download it using the form below.