Cassidian Communications and Industrial Communications & Electronics Upgrade Billings 9-1-1 Center

Apr 12, 2012 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Cassidian Communications, an EADS North America company, together with service provider, Industrial Communications & Electronics, Inc., recently upgraded the 9-1-1 equipment at the Billings, Mont., City/County 9-1-1 Center.

In a release, the companies said that the upgrade includes the Sentinel Patriot call processing solution, the Aurora management information system (MIS) solution and a suite of Managed Services from Cassidian Communications.

"When we were faced with replacing our 9-1-1 telephone system, we wanted to select a system with features and functions that would provide continuity of service during our eventual transition into a new facility and meet the future demands of next generation 9-1-1," said Anne Kindness, communication center manager, Billings City/County 9-1-1 Center. "Public safety communications systems are investments, so while they need to be functional and relevant to current needs, they must also have the capability and flexibility to meet what the future may hold. Cassidian Communications and Industrial Communications and Electronics, Inc. worked with us to provide a forward-looking system that can grow and accommodate the changing face of 9-1-1 services." A Cassidian Communications customer since 1999, the eight-position 9-1-1 center is now outfitted with the latest call handling equipment. The call takers are responsible for answering all emergency and administrative calls from within Yellowstone County and dispatching for the City of Billings Police Department, the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, the Billings Fire Department, 15 rural fire departments, four ambulance services, the Crash/Fire/Rescue Team at Logan International Airport and various state and federal agencies needing to communicate with local agencies. In 2011, the 9-1-1 center received 58,817 emergency calls and dispatched 242,583 calls for service.

"Not only did Cassidian Communications partner with Billings on upgrading its 9-1-1 center's existing emergency call handling solution with one that will provide next generation capabilities, the city also recently awarded us a contract for the city's land mobile radio (LMR) system," said Mike Pavick, vice president of sales, Cassidian Communications. "I'm pleased to see Billings adopt the future of interoperability within the 9-1-1 industry and move forward with systems to keep its capabilities ahead of the technology curve." In August, 2011, Billings awarded Cassidian Communications a contract for its digital, trunked P25 LMR system. The multi-year agreement supplies Billings with a turnkey radio communications solution for public safety, including hardware, software, system engineering, installation and maintenance through 2021.

The Sentinel Patriot solution's IP architecture, designed expressly for NG9-1-1 applications, is based on current and evolving critical communications technologies and standards. According to the companies, this allows for the design of backup, disaster recovery, and overflow operations with the assured ability to provide service under unexpected conditions.

Completing the NG9-1-1 solution suite designed for the Billings City/County 9-1-1 Center is the Aurora MIS for complete call center metrics as well as Managed Services for around-the-clock direct and secure connectivity with the Service Management Center, ensuring the integrity and reliability of its solutions.

Cassidian Communications continues to serve clients ranging from public safety operations to Fortune 1000 corporations to federal agencies. Collectively, the company has more than 40 years of experience deploying 9-1-1 call processing solutions, notification solutions and first responder digital trunked radio networks.

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