We are entering a new phase of how we access 9-1-1 services in Canada. The current system – a traditional phone call to 9-1-1 to request police, fire or ambulance response – has been in place for decades.
Telecommunications networks have greatly evolved over the years. Today, you can do much more than make a phone call. You can also send texts, videos and photos. E-Comm and all Public Safety Answer Points in Canada are preparing to make sure emergency services benefit from these advancements under what’s called Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1).
Eventually, Canadians could send a video of a vehicle crash, as well as make medical information available to first responders. This will lead to safer, faster and more informed emergency responses.
Switching over to the new NG9-1-1 network is an important step in new services becoming available in the future, such as real-time text messaging services. A federal regulatory deadline for providing NG9-1-1 real-time text messaging services to the general public will be set at a later date.
Find out more about NG9-1-1.