Latest news with #NextGeneration911
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
She was drifting from shore in Lake Ontario on a paddle board. A new 911 system helped Hamilton police locate her
It was just after 5 p.m. Tuesday when Hamilton police dispatch received a 911 call from a woman drifting on Lake Ontario. She was on a paddle board without an oar, being carried away from the shore near Beach Boulevard. It just so happened that Tuesday also marked Hamilton's official transition to the Next Generation 911 (NG-911) network, upgrading from the old analogue, copper wire phone system, to digital, said Lisa Osika, the PSAP (public safety answering point) co-ordinator for Hamilton police. The service switched over at 6 a.m. that day. Hamilton is among the first 10 communities in Ontario to transition to NG-911, which all municipalities are required by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) to do by the end of March 2027. The new system meant that police could pinpoint the woman's location with greater accuracy. Patrol officers responded and at first could see the woman from shore, but she soon drifted out of sight, Osika said. She was still on the phone with dispatch. Prior to the transition, Hamilton also began using a public safety program called RapidSOS. In Canada, the program only works on Apple's iOS operating system, she said. Users can allow emergency services to see their phone and even add in extra health information, such as allergies or where to find medicine, in case of an emergency. On Tuesday, dispatch noticed the woman on the water had RapidSOS and, using that, they were able to follow her movement. Osika said this program shows up on the screen with a yellow star that left a 'bread crumb trail' they could follow as the woman drifted farther. Using this information, dispatch shared the woman's location with the coast guard, who were able to rescue her safely. Other benefits of the NG-911 system include stronger security and better backup capabilities, Osika said. For instance, if multiple calls come from the same number, they are automatically merged so dispatch can see the full picture. Right now, there are special text 911 features for registered deaf and hard of hearing people — but the expectation is that eventually, texting 911 will be available everywhere. Once the whole country is using NG-911, dispatch will be able to share and access information from calls anywhere in Canada. Nicole O'Reilly is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. noreilly@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Comtech to Report Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results on June 9, 2025
CHANDLER, Ariz., June 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 2025-- Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) ("Comtech" or the "Company") today announced that it plans to release its third quarter fiscal 2025 results after the market closes on Monday, June 9, 2025. At 5:00 p.m. ET that day, Comtech's leadership team will hold a conference call to discuss the Company's third quarter fiscal 2025 results, operations, and business trends. A real-time webcast of the call will be available to the public at the investor relations section of the Comtech web site at Alternatively, investors can access the conference call by dialing (800) 225-9448 (primary) or (203) 518-9708 (alternate) and using the conference I.D. of "Comtech." A replay of the call will also be available by dialing (800) 934-2123 or (402) 220-1137 through Monday, June 23, 2025. About Comtech Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is a leading provider of satellite and space communications technologies; terrestrial and wireless network solutions; Next Generation 911 (NG911) and emergency services; and cloud native capabilities to commercial and government customers around the world. Through its culture of innovation and employee empowerment, Comtech leverages its global presence and decades of technology leadership and experience to create some of the world's most innovative solutions for mission-critical communications. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking Statements Certain information in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature and involve certain significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and performance could differ materially from such forward-looking information. The Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings identify many such risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking information in this press release is qualified in its entirety by the risks and uncertainties described in such Securities and Exchange Commission filings. View source version on Contacts Investor Relations Maria Ceriello631-962-7102investors@ Media Contact Jamie Longacre Square PartnersComtech@ Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Comtech to Report Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results on June 9, 2025
CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 2025-- Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) ('Comtech' or the 'Company') today announced that it plans to release its third quarter fiscal 2025 results after the market closes on Monday, June 9, 2025. At 5:00 p.m. ET that day, Comtech's leadership team will hold a conference call to discuss the Company's third quarter fiscal 2025 results, operations, and business trends. A real-time webcast of the call will be available to the public at the investor relations section of the Comtech web site at Alternatively, investors can access the conference call by dialing (800) 225-9448 (primary) or (203) 518-9708 (alternate) and using the conference I.D. of 'Comtech.' A replay of the call will also be available by dialing (800) 934-2123 or (402) 220-1137 through Monday, June 23, 2025. About Comtech Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is a leading provider of satellite and space communications technologies; terrestrial and wireless network solutions; Next Generation 911 (NG911) and emergency services; and cloud native capabilities to commercial and government customers around the world. Through its culture of innovation and employee empowerment, Comtech leverages its global presence and decades of technology leadership and experience to create some of the world's most innovative solutions for mission-critical communications. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking Statements Certain information in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature and involve certain significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and performance could differ materially from such forward-looking information. The Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings identify many such risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking information in this press release is qualified in its entirety by the risks and uncertainties described in such Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- CTV News
Toronto police launch new text-back system to cut 911 delays and pocket dials
The Toronto Police Services emblem is photographed during a press conference at TPS headquarters, in Toronto on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov Toronto police say a new text-back feature for disconnected 911 calls could significantly reduce wait times for people in real emergencies — especially as accidental pocket dials accounted for nearly one-third of all calls last year. In a news release issued Thursday, officials say the technology, dubbed 'Next Generation 911 (NG9-1-1),' will 'reduce wait times' and save operators 'an estimated 30 hours per day.' The feature, will automatically remove misdialed or dropped calls from a queue and send a text to the caller to confirm if they're experiencing an real emergency. Previously, police say call-takers had to manually call back to confirm. 'Removing the hang-up calls from the 911 queue means that people on the line with a true emergency can get through to an operator faster,' police wrote in a statement, adding that about 27 per cent of calls in 2024 were due to pocket dials or misdials. Response times down since 2023 The launch of the new feature comes following a sharp improvement in 911 response times across Toronto. Just two years after police emergency response peaked at an average of 26.7 minutes, the city says that figure has now dropped to 12.6 minutes. Mayor Olivia Chow, who took office in mid-2023, previously said she was 'worried' when wait times reached nearly 30 minutes in October that year. Toronto police response times Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw (centre), Mayor Olivia Chow, and Coun. Shelley Carroll speak at a news conference on March 4, 2025. What else is new? Among the new text-back feature, other upgrades include improved caller location accuracy, better cybersecurity, and more backup capability in case of technical failure. In the future, officials say the system will also support real-time text and live emergency video calls. 'Next Generation 911 will enhance all aspects of public safety communications,' said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw, calling the update a major modernization effort that addresses the city's nearly two million emergency calls per year. Since 2022, the Ontario government has spent $5 million to support TPS' transition to NG9-1-1 as Solicitor General Michael Kerzne phrases the technology as a 'game changer.' While there is no immediate change for callers in general, police say the public should still call 911 as usual during emergencies. Toronto Police Services Board Chair Shelley Carroll says, 'This transformative upgrade will reduce the burden on call-takers, ultimately improving response times – a goal that's important to all Torontonians in an emergency.'
CBC
22-05-2025
- CBC
Toronto police 911 upgrade expected to improve response times
The Toronto Police Service is rolling out a major update to its 911 system to help improve response times as part of a multi-stage upgrade called Next Generation 911. Starting Thursday, a new automatic text will be sent to cell phones that call 911 and hang up, asking if you need assistance. Previously, a call-taker was required to manually call back to ensure the person was safe. Sarah Mardus, coordinator of Emergency Voice Services, says it's all part of an effort to eliminate backlog on 911 lines. "If you do, your call goes back in queue, and if you don't, the call drops completely from the system," Mardus explained. Colin Stairs, chief transformation officer with Toronto Police Service says pocket dials currently make up about 27 per cent of the service's calls and removing them from the 911 queue is expected to improve response times. "If you consider one-third of the volume, that's a pretty high amount. So we're spending about 30 hours a day on those types of calls right now," he said. The system upgrade is also expected to provide emergency operators with more accurate data to help determine the caller's location and increase the system's reliability and cyber security. While the process for callers to connect with a 911 operator remains the same, police say the changes aim to make the systems more secure, efficient and reliable. and texting photos and videos to 911.
