NG911 Software: How Next Generation 911 Systems Work
NG911 (Next Generation 911) modernizes the legacy 9-1-1 infrastructure to an IP network — enabling text, video, and real-time data from the citizen to the dispatcher and CAD system. This guide explains how the ESInet/i3 architecture works, how it differs from E911, and what PSAPs need to adopt NG911.
What is NG911?
NG911 — Next Generation 911 — is the transition of the 9-1-1 emergency system from an analog switched-telephone network (PSTN) to a modern IP architecture: the ESInet (Emergency Services IP Network). This migration transforms the PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) from a passive voice-call receiver into a multimedia emergency data center capable of processing text, video, high-precision location, vehicle telematics, and sensor data.
The reference standard was defined by NENA (National Emergency Number Association) under the i3 architecture. As of 2026, more than 60% of PSAPs in the US have migrated or are in active migration. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocates specific federal funds to accelerate the transition. In Latin America, equivalent 9-1-1 modernization systems follow similar IP-network frameworks for dispatch centers.
Legacy 9-1-1 vs. NG911: comparison
| Feature | Legacy 9-1-1 (PSTN) | NG911 (ESInet / IP) |
|---|---|---|
| Network type | Public Switched Telephone Network | Dedicated IP network (ESInet) |
| Contact channels | Voice only | Voice, text, video, data |
| Location accuracy | Cell tower level (± 300 m) | Floor & apartment level (± 5 m) |
| PSAP-to-PSAP transfer | Voice call transfer only | Full incident with context |
| Data to CAD | Dispatcher manual entry | Automatic structured data feed |
| Redundancy | Limited — single node failure risk | Automatic dynamic rerouting |
| Multimedia | No | Video, image, telematics, sensors |
How the ESInet / NENA i3 architecture works
When a citizen contacts 911 via NG911 — by voice, text, or video — the request enters the ESInet through the Originating Service Provider (OSP) and reaches an ESRP (Emergency Services Routing Proxy). The ESRP queries the ECRF (Emergency Call Routing Function) with the caller location — provided via PIDF-LO (Presence Information Data Format Location Object) — and determines which PSAP should receive the request based on the corresponding GIS polygon.
At the PSAP, the NGCS (Next Generation Call System) receives the request, delivers the structured data to the dispatcher, and exposes it to the CAD system via a standard interface. The BCF (Border Control Function) protects the network from attacks, and the LPF (Location Policy Function) applies location privacy rules. If the PSAP must transfer the incident to another center, all context — video, location, call history — travels with the transfer.
Key NG911 capabilities
NG911 and CAD: where it becomes operational speed
The integration between NG911 and the CAD system is the point where infrastructure modernization converts to real seconds of response time reduction. In an NG911-enabled PSAP, when a call arrives, the GIS-validated location, incident type, and attached data are automatically delivered to CAD — the dispatcher does not need to ask for the address or type it: it is already there, verified.
Modern CAD systems like K-Dispatch is designed to consume the NG911 data feed directly — including text-to-911 and attached images — and use that information for automated unit recommendation, incident geolocation, and event-record creation. The NG911 + integrated CAD combination reduces time from call receipt to effective unit dispatch. To explore what to look for in a modern CAD, see the best CAD dispatch software guide.
Frequently asked questions about NG911
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