AT&T's Innovative NG911 Services Earns Frost & Sullivan Recognition for Public Safety Leadership

AT&T Receives Frost & Sullivan's 2024 US Market Leadership Award for NG911

AT&T recently claimed the prestigious 2024 US Market Leadership Award from Frost & Sullivan for its notable contributions to public safety through its Next Generation 911 (NG911) services. This recognition marks the sixth consecutive year that AT&T has been honored for its proactive efforts in enhancing emergency response through innovative technology.

Transforming Public Safety with NG911

Frost & Sullivan's in-depth research highlighted AT&T's comprehensive approach to integrating advanced telecommunications solutions with emergency services. With contracts covering a population exceeding 80 million and a market share of about 30%, AT&T's commitment to the NG911 initiative is robust. The company has effectively enhanced situational awareness and incident intelligence, ultimately improving outcomes during critical events.

A key feature of AT&T's solution is its collaboration with FirstNet®, which merges with the AT&T Emergency Services IP Network (AT&T ESInet™). This integration allows citizens and connected devices to send IP-based communications directly to Emergency Call Centers (ECCs), streamlining information flow to first responders in emergencies. This significantly boosts response efforts, ensuring timely assistance to those in need.

AT&T's ESInet™ has been operational since 2018 and is designed for redundancy and geographic distribution, improving customer service experiences across the nation. The network of data centers co-located with existing 911 databases coverage enables pre-deployed call processing, making AT&T’s infrastructure unique compared to its competitors. This architecture is designed not just for typical call management but also to handle unexpected surges in call volumes by intelligently redistributing calls among ECCs.

Meeting Evolving Public Demands

NG911 services represent a significant evolution from traditional voice-centric E911 networks, by accommodating a varied range of IP-based communications, enhancing the speed and precision of response efforts. This system supports new technologies and communication methods typically used by modern citizens, acknowledging their changing lifestyles and increasing expectations from emergency services.

AT&T's managed-as-a-service model addresses the concerns of cautious 911 state administrators who often struggle with the complexities of NG911 rollout and management. The AT&T ESInet™ is reinforced by standard service level agreements (SLAs) that ensure reliability in availability, call delivery, call quality, and provisioning.

Leading the Way in 911 Solutions

According to Brent Iadarola, Vice President at Frost & Sullivan, AT&T’s established reputation as a carrier and its innovative solutions architecture distinctly set it apart in a competitive landscape. Its ability to showcase proven NG911 deployments has become a focal point in attracting new contracts. Currently, AT&T boasts contracts with approximately 2,000 ECCs, with over 80% actively involved or operational in live NG911 environments. Furthermore, AT&T has successfully secured interoperability agreements with all tier 1 US carriers, enhancing the overall reliability of its services.

The company’s NG911 solution is backed by a wide array of advanced features that greatly improve public safety operations, allowing citizens to transmit texts, data, video, and IP-based voice calls through the 911 service during emergencies. This commitment to innovation positions AT&T firmly at the forefront of the NG911 landscape, while maintaining strong market leadership due to its rich history in the public safety sphere.

Conclusion

Each year, Frost & Sullivan selects a company for its Market Leadership Award based on its innovative contributions to the industry. The award celebrates organizations that leverage cutting-edge technology to create value-adding features for their products, enhancing customer satisfaction and driving market success. AT&T's ongoing success in the NG911 domain not only highlights its commitment to public safety but also reinforces its position as a trusted leader in the telecommunications industry.

With a legacy of excellence and a clear vision for the future, AT&T continues to shape the landscape of emergency response services via its Next Generation 911 technologies.