TeleCommunication Systems announced successful multi-state deployments of Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) service in Montgomery County, Maryland; Fairfax County, Virginia; and Chester County, Pennsylvania. These counties represent the vanguard for accelerating deployment to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) of location-enabled VoIP E9-1-1 services in these three states. TCS is partnering with infrastructure operators that can deliver VoIP E9-1-1 calls to Public Safety Answering Points serving approximately 190 million people in the U.S.

The TCS VoIP E9-1-1 service is designed for mobility and provides a complete solution for static, nomadic and, ultimately, mobile VoIP users. The solution enables the routing and delivery of the E9-1-1 VoIP caller’s registered location information to the PSAP nearest to the emergency caller’s current location. TCS delivers ALI (Automatic Location Identification) steering, call routing, call center and other services enabling it to deliver the essential E9-1-1 requirements for interconnected VoIP Service Providers (VSPs). Additionally, the deployments provide VSP subscribers and PSAPs with access to unparalleled real-time validation and provisioning of address information. The VoIP E9-1-1 service is also unique in its ability to provide the user’s current 9-1-1 status immediately upon provisioning.

In June 2005, the FCC published its E9-1-1 Order requiring all interconnected VoIP service providers to automatically provide E9-1-1 services to all customers as a standard, mandatory feature without customers having to specifically request this service, and without the ability to opt out. VoIP E9-1-1 calls must be routed to the correct PSAP with the caller’s accurate registered location information as part of the information being delivered.

To provide an FCC-compliant VoIP E9-1-1 solution requires the collaboration of 5 key entities: 1) a VoIP Service Provider (VSP); 2) a VSP transport provider; 3) a location routing and delivery provider; 4) the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC); 5) the Public Safety Answering Point. TCS provides coordinated testing across all 5 entities along with the routing and delivery of the caller’s current registered location information to the appropriate PSAP. The combination of three distinct technology sources (the VSPs, VSP transport providers, and TCS) and their successful testing and collaborative delivery demonstrates a comprehensive E9-1-1 VoIP solution to VSPs, and, ultimately, to their VoIP customers.