OTTAWA – British Columbia has filed a Part 1 application to the CRTC requesting that the regulator consider mandating an environment where testing can be done on the next generation 911 networks.
The new emergency networks set up by Bell and Telus, which will be able to carry images and videos from distressed callers, don’t have a pre-live testing environment to iron out any kinks before being operational, BC said.
The implication of that, the province argues, is that complex troubleshooting issues and upgrades will have to be done with multiple service providers live, which could be highly disruptive to critical services.
“We are looking with extreme concern at the fact…that all implementation, testing and changes in operations will be deployed in live (production) systems,” BC said in its application dated earlier this month.
The NG911 system includes a “high number of operational entities and software/hardware providers throughout the call path from end user through first responders,” the province said, adding the new systems will go through faster development and enhancement lifecycles, “creating the need for more continuous updates.”
“Considering that these IT and Telecommunications components are supporting critical services that will affect the lives of millions of citizens in the province, it is in our best interest to submit this position paper with arguments about the requirements needed to support a proper NG911 testing system,” it added.
The province is asking for the CRTC to amend the conditions and requirements for the service providers to create a testing environment for the NG911 systems, allow the providers to recoup those costs, and to build technical standards for the deployment and operations of these networks.
The legacy 911 systems are scheduled to be phased out by March 2025, with the new networks taking over.
