Massachusetts okays Verizon to offer public safety services

Massachusetts has authorised Verizon to offer services to public safety users through the state’s public safety grade wireless agreement.

According to Verizon, this is the first state and local agency multivendor procurement in the US for public safety grade wireless data services.

Those data services feature:

• A virtualised separate 4G LTE core, which Verizon claims maximises security for public safety users
• 3GPP standards to implement quality of service (QOS), priority and pre-emption for public safety data communications
   

In a statement, Verizon said the agreement “will provide seamless wireless communication across jurisdiction, public safety discipline and wireless carrier”.

The company added that public safety users responding to major incidents “will be able to talk, text, share multimedia and communicate in real time, regardless of their selected public safety grade wireless carrier, plan or device”.

“We’re excited to support first responders in Massachusetts and provide them with reliable and secure wireless services,” said Maggie Hallbach, Vice President of State, Local and Education Sales at Verizon. “When safety is on the line, first responders need to know that the communications systems they depend on will be fully operational to help keep them and the public safe during emergency situations.”

“The ability for public safety users throughout Massachusetts to communicate seamlessly while responding to incidents is of the utmost importance,” said Kerry Collins, Undersecretary for Forensic Science and Technology, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

“Bringing real-time communications to our first responders enables us to better protect and serve.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/bluraz

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