ANNAPOLIS, MD and FORT WORTH, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- Jun 08, 2009 -- NENA, booth #215 -- TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS), a leading provider of mission-critical wireless communications, today announced that it has been selected by the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board (MESB) to implement a Next-Generation (NG) 9-1-1 pilot project based on the National Emergency Number Association's (NENA) technical and operational standards. This two-year project will provide a platform for the evaluation of new NG 9-1-1 network, routing, location data, and answering position solutions as they are developed. The pilot project will also evaluate options on how an NG 9-1-1 System, and the underlying data sets necessary to run an NG system could be implemented, managed, maintained, and funded.
The MESB is a joint powers organization created by the City of Minneapolis, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Scott, Hennepin, Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington Counties for the purpose of managing the 9-1-1 network and location databases, a regional public safety radio system, and coordination of EMS services within the eight county Minneapolis / St. Paul metro area. The 19 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) in this metro area receive over 1.3 million 9-1-1 calls annually, of which more than 50 percent are wireless. The TCS NG 9-1-1 pilot will specifically involve the Dakota Communications Center, the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center, and the Washington County Communications Center operated by the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The Minnesota State Office of Enterprise Technology will be supplying the wide area network connectivity to the PSAPs in support of the pilot project.
While the TCS pilot will be limited to three of the communications centers, the MESB plans to use this as a model to validate a plan to implement a regional, IP-based 9-1-1 system that will link together all of the PSAPs in the eight county metro area on a wide-area network (WAN). The WAN will permit interconnection to the existing 9-1-1 network and support the current public switched telephone network during the transition to a standards-based NG 9-1-1 System. The proposed network design has the capacity to support all of the IP-based public safety applications currently serving the metro area PSAPs, plus any anticipated growth through 2010. These applications include, but are not limited to, the Board's regional GIS location database management system, the criminal justice data network, the regional 800/700 MHz radio system, mobile data networks, and a secure broadband Internet connection.
"It is critical to update our regional 9-1-1 system in order to provide comparable access to the rapidly growing number of people using new IP-based telecommunications services in our area. This pilot will ensure that we have the information we need to make the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 go smoothly," said Pete Eggimann, the Director of 9-1-1 Services for the MESB. "We have a number of policy decisions that need to be addressed before we can move forward with a final NG 9-1-1 recommendation to our Board. TCS brings the right mix of NG 9-1-1 expertise, value, and willingness to innovate to the pilot project. We feel confident we will get the answers we need in order to make those policy recommendations. The 2.7 million residents we serve expect and deserve that due diligence from the MESB. We are also looking forward to sharing our experience with the MN State 9-1-1 Program and other 9-1-1 professionals across the country."
The pilot project demonstration system will have features added in stages. In year one, the stages (in order) include support of VoIP originated calls, wireline originated calls, and wireless originated calls. Year two stages include transfer of calls, out of the ordinary call flows, and new communication technologies. The pilot project participants will be working together at each stage with the MN State 9-1-1 Program to ensure the work in the metro area is in sync with what the State 9-1-1 Program wants to do throughout the rest of the state. The ability to communicate and share data statewide is a critical requirement of NG public safety systems.
"TCS looks forward to partnering with the MESB to create a NG 9-1-1 system that fits the growing needs of the eight county metro areas," said Dan Allen, senior vice president of the TCS Service Bureau. "The MESB recognizes the need to implement a system that can accept emergency services requests from a variety of new IP-based telecommunication services -- as users are no longer communicating only with traditional telephones, or even just cell phones. We will architect and implement a system that can support users of new IP-based telecommunication services and importantly provide information to the PSAPs in the form of voice, test messages, video, etc. We applaud their efforts and look forward to making this NG 9-1-1 system a reality."
TCS is the only provider of Voice-over-IP and Wireless E9-1-1 that operates a TL9000 certified Network Operations Center (NOC), emphasizing its commitment to customer satisfaction, continuous improvement and performance accountability. Today, TCS provides E9-1-1 service to more than 100 million subscribers in the United States for more than 35 wireless carriers and handles more than 120,000 life-saving calls daily.
To learn more about the TCS approach to NG 9-1-1 visit: http://www.telecomsys.com/downloads/carriers/pdf/whitep_VoIP_E911nextgen_12_9_08.pdf.
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS) engineers and delivers highly reliable wireless communications technology. TCS is a leader in wireless text messaging and location-based technology, including E9-1-1 services and commercial applications like navigation that use the precise location of a wireless device, and secure satellite-based communications systems and services. Customers include leading wireless and VoIP carriers around the world, cable MSOs, automotive telematics vendors, and agencies of the U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security. TCS is one of six primary vendors on a $5 billion Army Worldwide Satellite Systems Contract vehicle. For more information, visit www.telecomsys.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based upon TCS' current expectations and assumptions that if incorrect would cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Risks include without limitation those detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, or otherwise.
Company Contact: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. Meredith Allen 410-295-1865 Email Contact Media Contact: Welz & Weisel Communications Evan Weisel 703-218-3555 Email Contact Investor Relations: Liolios Group, Inc. Scott Liolios 949-574-3860 Email Contact
