One of the largest mobile carriers is preparing to roll out new technology it says will fill “a significant need” for wireless 911 callers and first responders.
Phil Black, AT&T’s director of sales and distribution for South Carolina, says the provider’s new “Locate Before Route” will use GPS tracking instead of cell towers to provide a more precise location for first responders.
When 911 was first established, people called in from landlines, which allowed 911 centers to track their precise location. About 80% of 911 calls today, however, are made from mobile devices. Pinpointing those call locations is not as simple.
Black says the new technology will narrow down a caller’s location from a 10-mile radius to about half a football field. This should help with faster response times from emergency services.