NENA Releases Standard for Interconnecting ESInets & PSBNs
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The NENA Standard for Interconnecting Emergency Services IP Networks and Public Safety Broadband Networks contains specifications and information critical to interconnecting Emergency Services IP networks (ESInets) to Public Safety Broadband Networks (PSBNs) in a way that maximizes interoperability on both sides of the network boundary. In the context of this document, ESInets may exist at the state, regional, or local agency level. The term "PSBN" is used to refer to any broadband network that is hosting Public Safety responder devices and applications. The interconnection issues covered in this document are the same regardless of the specific ESInet or PSBN being connected. The solutions for some issues, however, are highly implementation dependent. This document provides information and advice on those types of issues.
The target audience for this document includes those who are responsible for designing and configuring the interconnect between an ESInet and PSBN (sometimes referred to as the "interconnect architect"), and those responsible for managing the relationships with network, device, and application vendors on both sides of the network interconnect. While this document is focused primarily on the network interconnect, it covers PSAP, responder, and device characteristics, as well as application interfaces when required.
Properly implemented, the standards and recommendations included in this document will enhance interoperability across key sectors of the public safety ecosystem. In particular, data and information sharing between the general public requesting emergency services, the PSAP answering their initial requests, and the first responders dispatched to address the emergency will be enabled and enhanced by implementing this standard. ESInet to PSBN interconnection and interoperability is needed to enable the promise of Next Generation 9‑1‑1 (NG9‑1‑1) and NG9‑1‑1 public safety in general, so proper implementation of this standard will have significant technical impact on the implementation of NG9‑1‑1.
