Government Technology - November 2007 - (Page Alcatel2)

“We wanted to bring in what I call the Darwinism of the commercial market — where competition is intense and services tend to be a lot better — and apply those lessons to the public safety infrastructure.” — Vivek Kundra, Chief Technology Officer, District of Columbia would now be measured in seconds instead of minutes.” And because the network is optimized for public safety, their data will always go through. In the National Capital Region, 18 other jurisdictions are considering deploying the same network as the District, purchasing equipment under an amended version of the contract with Alcatel-Lucent. Implementing the network across the area would provide muchneeded interoperability for data, voice and video communications, said Kundra. By building EV-DO networks, public safety agencies benefit from all the research, development and standards-making activities that have driven the evolution of wireless broadband products and services. They also gain an opportunity to help shape future generations of the technology. “They can join this global commercial technology ecosystem and no longer be on a technology island,” said Iandolo. Although the District is just getting the RWBN up and running, it already has experienced the benefits of a dedicated 700 MHz network. Since January 2005, the District has operated a pilot broadband system called the Wireless Accelerated Responder Network (WARN), with approximately 250 end-users. If launched, the RWBN would allow the District to decommission the WARN infrastructure, and all users would then move onto the new network, Kundra said. The pilot network proved the business case for a network like the RWBN, he said. “We found out that giving first responders access to some of these devices allowed them to better communicate amongst themselves.” It also gave users greater flexibility, providing a broad range of Web-based applications that previously weren’t available in the field. “No longer do you have to have proprietary technologies that are tied down to a mobile data terminal or a radio,” Kundra said. “Now you’re able to bring them the power of the Web and the ubiquity of the network. It’s an amazing intersection where you’re able to provide first responders with the same technologies that consumers have at their fingertips — which, incidentally, have evolved much faster and better, just because of the economics and the market pressures, than vertical technologies in public safety.” Applications that the District expects to implement on the network will allow personnel to exchange e-mails and send reports from the field; collaborate with peers in other jurisdictions using text and IP-based voice communications; transmit live video from an incident to a command post; and more. “There are countless applications,” Kundra said. And agencies won’t save them just for emergencies. “My goal is to make sure those applications are part of the first responders’ day-to-day operations, so that if an incident does happen, we’re not introducing new technology on top of all the other issues.” As public safety agencies contemplate the rollout of 700 MHz broadband, the District’s network offers a test bed for future applications and an example of how to implement successfully, Kundra said. “Whoever wins the spectrum can look at this as a model.” Survival of the Fittest In addition, agencies benefit from the economics of the commercial marketplace, where developers of wireless devices spread their costs over tens of millions of users in the United States alone, and market forces favor the customer. “We wanted to bring in what I call the Darwinism of the commercial market — where competition is intense and services tend to be a lot better — and apply those lessons to the public safety infrastructure,” Kundra said. With 12 base stations, the new network covers more than 95 percent of the District. Initially the District would deploy 1,500 end-user devices, mostly in the form of wireless cards to be installed in ruggedized notebook computers. “We’re also looking at mobile applications such as PDAs [personal digital assistants] with integrated cards,” Kundra said. The District might also use the network to deploy IP-based surveillance cameras, which it could move from one location to another as needed, he said. Alcatel-Lucent delivers complete, best-in-class communications solutions aligned with the most challenging mission imperatives of government, and tailored to business needs. AlcatelLucent: serving those who serve the public in an always-on world. For more information visit http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/wps/portal/government or call 877-425-8822 LGS, an independent and wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent’s North American operations, serves the U.S federal government community. Leveraging the world-class R&D of Bell Labs and innovation of Alcatel-Lucent, with global reach and expertise, LGS challenges itself to solve the unsolvable and deliver secure, reliable, standards-based solutions to its customers. For more information about LGS visit www.LGSinnovations.com. This Government Technology Solution Spotlight was sponsored by Alcatel•Lucent. © 2007 e.Republic Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/wps/portal/government http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/wps/portal/government http://www.LGSinnovations.com http://www.LGSinnovations.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Government Technology - November 2007

Government Technology - November 2007 Contents Point of View Way Back Machine The Last Mile GT Spectrum Big Picture Building Better Government Up Close Inspector Gadget By the Numbers Money Talking No Greenwashing Pinching Pennies Bay Bridge Bustle Two Cents Products Signal: Noise

Government Technology - November 2007

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