Cloud communications service provider NWN Carousel partnered with the City of Baltimore to enhance public safety and emergency response. The $6.5 million contract, funded by the state of Maryland, will implement a next-generation 911 system equipped with AI-based technology, including automatic text translation in 140 languages and geo-mapping, eliminating the need for live translators and significantly reducing response times.
Baltimore's 911 specialists manage over 1.3 million annual emergency calls, dealing with a wide range of critical situations. In addition to translation services and geo-spatial routing, NWN Carousel is fortifying Baltimore's 911 system with enhanced cybersecurity measures to safeguard against cyberattacks. The cloud-based technology enables emergency call specialists to work remotely from any location, including the city's 25 mobile command posts, promoting flexibility and preparedness. Referred to as "911 in a box," these mobile units will be used to raise awareness about the emergency call system.
NWN Carousel offers comprehensive solutions, including system design, equipment sales, installation, 24/7 service, E911/NG911 call handling, GIS mapping, mobile call-taker positions for disaster recovery and hybrid work settings, network design, telco carrier services, and a suite of security services to ensure the protection of these critical infrastructures.
Tenea Reddick, City of Baltimore 911 Director, emphasized the importance of clear communication in the city's diverse community.
“The ability to communicate immediately with Spanish speakers and other non-English speaking callers of our ever-growing diverse community will provide a new comfort level for Baltimore citizens who may have been reluctant to call 911 in the past because they felt that we would not understand them. Baltimore City 911 has joined the DEI movement, by now providing the citizens with diversity, equity, and inclusion when utilizing 911,” said Reddick.
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
