Consortium seeks contingency for NG911 rollout in B.C. amid tight timelines

A consortium working toward the successful implementation of next-generation 911 (NG911) services in British Columbia submitted a joint application to the CRTC seeking schedule contingency for the transition to NG911. The application, submitted last Tuesday, outlines the proactive steps taken by E-Comm and its partners since 2019 to prepare for the complex NG9-1-1 transition, which is considered the most intricate implementation of its kind in Canada. The transition involves four large public safety answering point (PSAP) organizations, more than1,500 people, and 20 site transitions, with a deadline set for March 4, 2025. “However, timelines are tight and there is limited schedule flexibility should a significant issue arise,” the applicants wrote. “It is recognized that a number of risks are present (internal and external) that could materially impact the schedule and put E-Comm’s transition and British Columbia’s critical 9-1-1 services at risk.” According to the application, internal risks include the potential for technical issues during quality assurance testing and the limited schedule flexibility to address these issues within the mandated timeline. External risks pertain to the NG911 network system's operational readiness and its impact on PSAPs' ability to transition on time and with confidence. E-Comm, responsible for more than two million emergency calls annually and serving as the primary PSAP for 99 per cent of B.C.’s emergency calls, recognizes the low tolerance for system failures. A brief outage could have severe consequences for thousands of citizens, emphasizing the need for a cautious and well-prepared transition, the applicants argue. In their plea for schedule contingency, E-Comm and its partners request that the current E911 network and legacy selective router gateways remain available until the end of 2025. This accommodation aims to provide extra time, if needed, to ensure a smooth transition without undue risks to public safety. The applicants highlighted the progress made in the NG911 transition, including system selection, proof of concept validation, business case approval, funding secured, detailed systems design, infrastructure procurement, and testing environments set up. The note however, that the complexity of the transition, along with the potential unforeseen technical issues, necessitates additional time for thorough testing and mitigation. -- Reporting by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca.

Consortium seeks contingency for NG911 rollout in B.C. amid tight timelines

News | January 9, 2024

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Consortium seeks contingency for NG911 rollout in B.C. amid tight timelines

News | January 9, 2024

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