Investment In 911 Network Supports Safer Communities

The Province of British Columbia is working with local governments for stronger upgrades to critical emergency communications services.

The Province's $150-million investment will fund upgrades to B.C.'s 911 emergency communications system, which is aging and increasingly incompatible with evolving technologies. The upgrades to Next Generation 911 will allow people the choice to contact 911 through new options, such as real-time text, and caller location features.

The technology's capacity to provide real-time accounts of domestic violence and other emergencies and unfolding events will help dispatchers and improve emergency responses.

E-Comm, which handles 99% of B.C.'s 911 call volume, is leading Next Generation 911's implementation in most B.C. municipalities. Pending approval by the legislature, the investment will help offset local governments' costs for transitioning to Next Generation 911 and be divided into two parts: $90 million will be provided to E-Comm for upgrades and $60 million will go to the Union of BC Municipalities  to defray costs, such as staffing, training and quality assurance.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.