North Texas Emergency Communications Center Implements All-Digital NextGen911 System Using AT&T ESInet

New 911 System Will Strengthen Public Safety Communications in the Town of Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Farmers Branch

The North Texas Emergency Communications Center (NTECC) has upgraded 911 communications for the Town of Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Farmers Branch with an all-digital NextGen911 system based on the AT&T ESInet™ platform – making it the first dispatch center in Texas to go live on the latest standards-based 911 technology. Simply put, NTECC is stepping into the future, taking advantage of new infrastructure that will help it increase redundancy and help call takers expedite emergency response. 

AT&T ESInet is an IP-based call routing service that will help public safety answering points (PSAPs) keep up with the current and future needs of its callers. Using AT&T ESInet's modern network architecture and the National Emergency Number Association's i3 standards, PSAPs will be able to provide a more reliable and improved 911 experience.

The four partner cities that makeup NTECC - Town of Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Farmers Branch - provide police, fire and EMS services to approximately 250,000 residents and visitors. The upgraded 911 system provides increased staff efficiency and allows new capabilities such as the ability to support text-to-911 as well as pictures and video sent via text.

"911 emergency communications are a vital link in connecting people with the help they need at critical moments," said Terry Goswick, executive director, North Texas Emergency Communications Center. "We needed a system that was built to carry the load of the entire organization, so when someone calls 911, their call will be directed to the call taker in the best position to help them. In that way, AT&T ESInet has been a game changer for us, providing a highly redundant system for better network resiliency."

With AT&T ESInet, the NTECC can:                        

• Provide more targeted response to help save time and improve outcomes. AT&T ESInet lets PSAPs manage how calls and text messages are routed to help ensure they reach the desired 911 agency. With location-based geospatial routing, PSAPs can quickly adjust their service boundaries to accommodate unforeseen situations.
• Handle unexpected call volumes. When calls spike, AT&T ESInet can automatically distribute calls to neighboring PSAPs. This can mean improved 911 call management for NTECC. This will make it easier for PSAPs to be more responsive to emergencies.
• Maintain service during a natural or man-made disaster. NTECC will have access to call processing locations distributed throughout the country for backup support as needed.
• Improve incident awareness. NTECC will be able to support pictures and videos sent via text message.

"We've made it our mission to provide efficient and effective enhanced 911 emergency communications that assist cities, counties and states in responding to emergency calls," said Stacy Schwartz, vice president, AT&T - Public Safety & FirstNet. "We are proud to work with the NTECC in providing advanced technologies to support these growing cities and help them improve the call experience for those in need."

To learn more about AT&T ESInet, go here.