In this episode, we touch on how public safety's adoption of technology differs from enterprise segments, before diving into the world of Next Generation 911, or NG911, and its transformative impact on public safety communications.

To help us with these two, intertwined topics, we are joined by Phil Rotheram. Phil is the Head of Strategic Sales at Atos Public Safety, and the current Chair of the NG911 Interoperability Task Force’s Financial Committee. He has more than 30 years of experience, with a deep and broad understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing emergency communications in the digital age we find ourselves in.

My key takeaways from this episode:

• Public Safety Technology Adoption vs. Enterprise: The adoption of technology in public safety, specifically 911 communications, lags behind the enterprise sector. Public safety systems often use outdated technology, while the enterprise sector frequently updates its systems.
• Legacy Systems and Challenges: Many public safety systems still use old technologies from legacy telephone companies, which haven't evolved with modern advancements like smartphones. There are challenges in replacing these systems, especially in regions with limited funding.
• Cloud Adoption in Public Safety: There's a significant difference in cloud adoption between public safety and enterprise sectors. While public safety is slowly adopting cloud-based solutions, there are concerns about security and a reluctance to move away from physical systems.
• Next Generation 911 (NG911): NG911 represents a significant upgrade from traditional 911 systems, moving to IP-based systems that can handle voice, text, video, and data. The transition to NG911 is necessary but challenging due to funding and technical issues.
• Interoperability and Standards: There's a critical need for interoperability and standardization in public safety communications systems. The NG911 Interoperability Task Force aims to ensure systems meet standards and work together effectively.
• Funding and Implementation Challenges: Funding is a major barrier to implementing NG911 and upgrading public safety technologies. Smaller states and counties struggle with the costs, and there's a need for consistent funding and support.
• Industry Awareness and User Confidence: There's a need for better understanding and communication within the industry regarding new technologies, like cloud solutions. Public safety practitioners should not fear adopting new technologies, as they offer significant improvements.

Thanks again to Phil Rotheram for joining us to talk about these topics. Connect with Phil on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philrotheram/

Find out more about Atos Public Safety here: https://atos.net/en/solutions/command-control-systems/public-safety

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