Upgrade is a game changer for municipalities such as Lloydminster, St. Albert, and Strathcona County
Alberta RCMP OCC 9-1-1 (Alberta RCMP photo)
EDMONTON – In a significant leap forward for public and officer safety, the Alberta RCMP has officially launched its Next-Generation 911 (NG9-1-1) system. The rollout coincides with the OCCtober, an annual campaign recognizing the vital work of the force’s Operational Communications Centres (OCC) and positions the RCMP as one of the first agencies in the province to implement this critical upgrade.
The new system represents a transformative shift from traditional 911, moving beyond voice-only communication to a digital, data-rich platform. The Alberta RCMP has achieved this technological milestone a full year and a half ahead of the provincial mandate, which requires all agencies to transition in 2027.
“Thanks to the committed teams in our Informatics unit and Operational Communications Centres, we are rolling out NG9-1-1 one and a half years ahead of the mandated deadline,” said Deputy Commissioner Trevor Daroux, Commanding Officer of the Alberta RCMP. “This is a strong example where dedicated people, through innovation, move technology forward, enhancing both public and police officer safety. NG9-1-1 allows for increased accuracy and interoperability to the extent not previously possible.”
A game-changer in location accuracy
The immediate benefits of NG9-1-1 are profound, particularly in how emergency callers are located, providing pinpoint precision, live location tracking, and future vertical location.
The old system relied on triangulating a caller’s position based on their distance from cell towers, which could generate a location radius as vast as 50 kilometres.
The new system uses the GPS in the caller’s handset itself.
It has improved caller location accuracy. Rather than relying solely on cell-tower approximations of latitude and longitude, the Alberta RCMP’s OCC now receives satellite-based location data which also includes altitude, meaning a caller’s specific floor in a multi-storey building can be identified.
It has live coordinates. Meaning a caller’s location coordinates will now update live when on the line with an operator.
It will give clear indication when a call is disconnected. Operators now have a clear indication when a caller has disconnected.
Building foundation for future innovations
The launch of NG9-1-1 establishes the technological backbone for even more advanced capabilities expected in the coming years. These future benefits are set to revolutionize emergency communication.
Text-to-9-1-1: NG9-1-1 will soon enable capabilities for the public to contact 9-1-1 via text messaging. This can be critical for situations in which speaking safely is not possible.
Photo/Video-to-9-1-1: Photo and video capabilities will be possible in the future, giving callers the ability to share real-time photos and videos with Alberta RCMP OCC operators to help inform police response.
Interagency data sharing & response: NG-9-1-1 will soon allow data sharing among communication centres across Alberta and Canada, improving situational awareness for both operators and first responders. Additionally, callers will be able to report occurrences happening across the country, with immediate transfers to the appropriate agency.
A wider impact on Alberta communities
The upgrade extends its benefits beyond the RCMP’s own communications centres. Municipalities that rely on Alberta RCMP technology for their dispatch operations will also see the advantages of the new system.
“This upgrade provides benefits that change the landscape of call-taking, not just for the Alberta RCMP but for municipalities, such as St. Albert, Strathcona County, and Lloydminster, that rely on the technology of the Alberta RCMP to operate their own dispatch centres,” said Chris Spence, Alberta RCMP OCC Director.
news@criminalsamongus.ca
