PHOENIX, Ariz., February 6, 2018 — Arizona’s most populous county is replacing its discontinued legacy 9-1-1 equipment with a state-of-the-art, IP-based routing solution from Solacom. Solacom’s advanced IP-based platform will allow Maricopa Region 9-1-1 to further enhance its wireless call processing and prepare its 26 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for NG9-1-1.

Maricopa Region 9-1-1 provides emergency 9-1-1 service to over 4 million people in all of Maricopa County, including Phoenix — the country’s fifth largest city — and Apache Junction in neighboring Pinal County. It handles 70 percent of all 9-1-1 calls in the state.

Solacom will equip PSAP networking centers in the Phoenix area with advanced, standards-based, i3-ready selective routers, that will provide Maricopa Region 9-1-1’s 26 PSAPs with the advanced routing and interoperability needed for NG9-1-1. The routers will also allow Maricopa Region 9-1-1 to maintain complete control of its regional emergency call-management network.

“Solacom understood our region and what our vision is for next-gen 9-1-1, and its product met those needs. They really understood what direction we wanted to move in,” says Liz Graeber, 9-1-1 administrator for Maricopa Region, which oversees the 9-1-1 system.

“There were other NG9-1-1 solutions out there, but Solacom worked with us to provide a solution that allows us to remain independent. Solacom has been a really good partner. Solacom recognized our uniqueness, built up trust and helped us to go down the right path.”

The region has managed its own closed 9-1-1 network since 2003, after its technical team was approved by the state 9-1-1 office to provide its own maintenance and selective routing for wireless 9-1-1 calls.

“The Solacom team is very excited about this project,” says Tony Parrott, Solacom’s vice president of sales. “Maricopa County is a unique, self-maintained network. Replacing its old system provides a framework for IP-capable functionality without having to be dependent on a carrier or network provider. This puts them on a path to where they want to be.”

This solution comes with five years of support, so the region never has to pay for an upgrade or a repair.