With the pace of change in technology today, governments desire technology investments with low-cost migration paths that allow them to easily take advantage of advancements in technology. Governments typically rely on their chosen vendor to provide a migration path for proprietary private networks. In some cases, vendors have ceased to support a protocol, leaving agencies with an obsolete system. This track record ensures public safety agencies of not only seamless integration, but proven reliability and technical support. There have been relatively few implementations of fully integrated mobile data applications on a commercial network.
Commercial infrastructures have many different users besides public-safety agencies.
While commercial networks offer many security features, skepticism among public safety agencies is likely to continue until commercial networks are fully proven in the field. While all of the above factors should be given due consideration, one of the most important considerations is risk. Public-safety agencies are not inclined to utilize technology that has not repeatedly proven itself in the field. Gradually, more agencies have begun to test the waters of commercial wireless networks, but few are ready to take the full plunge. Up to 28,800 bps Measured reliability About 99 percent 95 percent and greater Time to implement Long Short Security Over the air Provided by vendor Provided by vendor Network Controlled by agency Controlled by vendor and agency Andrew Anagnos and Martin Lind are consultants with The Warner Group , a Woodland Hills, Calif.-based management consulting firm specializing in the public sector.