Breaking Down Barriers to Ensure Secure Safety Communications
During any event involving large crowds — from natural disasters to sporting events to festivals — the biggest challenge organizers face is coordinating communications among safety and first-responder personnel. Since pioneering the first U.S. wireless E9-1-1 solution in 1998, TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS), a world leader in highly reliable and secure mobile communication technology, has been leading transformations in public safety solutions for wireless communications. Now, TCS is partnering with HipLink to deliver a secure mobile messaging platform, ensuring communications interoperability across any mobile device, regardless of carrier.
The challenge of creating a secure messaging service for multiple agencies came to the forefront during preparation for one of the most complex events imaginable: the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil.
Bringing the whole world together in one city
In preparation for hosting the World Cup, the city of Rio de Janeiro created the highly-sophisticated Rio Operations Center (COR) to coordinate communications among key personnel in many different city organizations and public safety agencies.
The complex safety and response network operations encompassed 30 agencies and over 2,500 devices daily. The Operations Center had to ensure instant, interoperable communications among city officials, hotel representatives, FIFA personnel, Maracana stadium officials, power and utility officials, and other World Cup stakeholders as well as a myriad of first-responder agencies.
Key individuals within these organizations needed to receive messages about traffic conditions, critical information relating to venues and events, issues of public safety, and any other information deemed important by COR.
To meet this global-scale challenge, HipLink Software and TCS teamed to provide the COR with a unique and comprehensive messaging platform.
The HipLink platform enabled COR to control account access, manage groups, create messages, and select recipients. COR messages were delivered through the TCS Cloud Messaging Center platform, which determines the appropriate delivery method, converts messaging protocols, and routes the messages to the appropriate wireless carrier for delivery to the designated recipients.
Breaking the boundaries of wireless communication
A critical challenge in an event of this size is creating an environment that allows mobile devices to communicate across any carrier network, regardless of device type.
The HipText service, offered by HipLink, uses the TCS Cloud Messaging Center (CMC) service for delivering text messages to cell phones across the world with complete end-to-end interoperability to the mobile carrier networks.
To overcome interoperability challenges, the companies have come together to develop the HCCTP protocol, a modification of standard WCTP. HCCTP allows for capture of two-way responses from cell phones across different carriers without having to define the carrier in the communication system.
This solution is unique because it means companies that use HipLink no longer have to maintain WCTP gateway access to multiple carriers if they use only HipText. Their receivers are free to move to any carrier of choice.
HipText is available at a competitive price per message. And, because it is powered by TCS, HipText is a comprehensive, high-performance and high-volume messaging solution that easily allows scaling to millions of text messages a day.
Freeing public safety agencies from restricted communications
The sophisticated capabilities of the HipLink platform combined with the broad telecommunications technology of the world-class TCS Cloud Messaging Center provided COR the first ever comprehensive and interlinking communications network.
The solution is a breakthrough that offers a model for public safety communication around the world.
[cta]HipLink, in partnership with AT&T, is a premier SaaS provider of mobility solutions serving both Mobile Health Care and Public Safety. With unparalleled leadership, patented technology, an impressive track record and extensive customer base, HipLink dedicates itself to the needs of its customers. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, HipLink excels at delivering innovative solutions designed to meet the unique and ever-changing needs of demanding customers.[/cta]
