In about 3 minutes, learn how new technologies and initiatives enhance the ability of public safety networks to communicate smoothly in times of crisis.
Public Safety Use of Commercial Broadband Wireless Technologies
(Full Article Transcript)
By Dr. K. Budka
Many existing public safety networks in the United States, Europe and other parts of the world are plagued by interoperability problems. The inability for first responders (police, firefighters and other emergency response personnel) to communicate seamlessly in times of crisis is an issue that strategic planners around the globe are trying to address.
“An incident commander makes 90% of a fire assessment within 15 seconds of arriving on the scene. If we can see a fire before we arrive via helicopter, traffic cameras, civilian picture phones or the media – then our response time can mean the difference between life and death and can turn a major fire into a much shorter event by getting the right people and equipment to the scene sooner.”
– Major in Prince George’s County Fire/EMS, Maryland, USA
Access to sufficient radio frequency spectrum is the foundation for interoperable and unfettered high-quality communications systems in the public safety arena. Recent action by the U.S. Congress and U.S. Federal Communications Commission has provided public safety agencies access to highly valuable 700 MHz spectrum, capable of economically serving wide areas with broadband speeds.
This is a major step forward for public safety organizations. Wide area wireless data services, if they exist at all, often operate at speeds of less than 10 kilobits per second, far too low to support the multimedia applications needed by first responders to meet the challenges they face today.
Armed with this new segment of spectrum, Alcatel-Lucent and LGS, a subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent focused on the U.S. federal government market, are working to bridge the interoperability gap and provide public safety agencies with new broadband data tools supported by commercial broadband wireless technologies. As a result of these efforts, Alcatel-Lucent and LGS launched the first 700 MHz public safety wireless broadband network in the U.S. in Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas, based on CDMA2000.
The Alcatel-Lucent solution enables the National Capital Region (the area in and around Washington, D.C.) to deliver multimedia content, mission-critical data and collaborative capabilities into the hands of first responders. Broadband tools can support remote surveillance, distribute helicopter video transmission and push mug shots of suspects to the field. This technology will also play a major role in chemical and biological weapon detection, bomb squad support and other activities that prevent or mitigate attacks or enhance the ability to respond to emergency situations.
Dr. Kenneth Budka is Director of the Network Performance and Reliability Department in Alcatel-Lucent's Chief Technology Office, Murray Hill, NJ, USA.
E-mail: kbudka@alcatel-lucent.com
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