ESInets Help Public Safety Agencies Move to NG9-1-1

ESInets and how it leads to NG9–1–1

What Is an ESInet?

The NENA develops the technology standards that drive NG911. Those standards, known as i3, spell out numerous factors PSAPs must meet for their systems to be considered true NG911 systems.

NG911 requires both an ESInet and Next Generation Core Services (NGCS).

The ESInet delivers i3-compliant emergency calls to the appropriate PSAP and supports NGCS; it also potentially is the transport mechanism for other public service-related capabilities. However, the ESInet is not equivalent to the NG9–1–1 software and database functions that operate on the ESInet. Rather, the NGCS consist of the software elements and related databases that are needed to process a 9–1–1 call on the NG9–1–1 network.

ESInets take advantage of broadband, packet switched technology capable of carrying voice plus large amounts of varying types of data using IP standards and technology.

Further, ESInets are engineered, managed networks, and are intended to be multi‐purpose,supporting extended public safety communications services as well as 911 services.NG911 systems assume that ESInets are hierarchical, or a ‘network of networks’ in a tiered design approach to support local, regional, state and national emergency management authorities.

How Does an ESInet Connect to NG9-1-1?

Once an ESInet is in place, PSAPs can build NG911 on that foundation. NG911 uses service-oriented architecture, software applications and data content to intelligently manage and control its IP based processes.

NG911 is driven by software and databases and enables an exponential increase in available data and information sharing possibilities. Additionally, NG911 provides flexibility and individual agency choice to determine information needs based on predetermined business/policy rules.