Stratus a key supplier to South Carolina’s most advanced communications/911 center

MAYNARD, Mass., Aug. 15, 2005 – Stratus Technologies, Inc. provided the ultra-high reliability computing platform, network planning and design services for a newly dedicated South Carolina communications/911 center lauded as the epitome of Public Safety technology and the design prototype for future communications facilities. The center’s E 911 and computer-aided dispatch systems run on Stratus’ continuously available computing platform, which provides 99.999 percent uptime.

The Oconee County Communications/911 Operations Department, located in the county’s new Law Enforcement Center, replaces decades-old technology and a physical plant that was much older still. The $2.5 million center has state-of-the-art dispatcher stations and telecommunications systems – including voice-over IP (VoIP) and capability for interoperability with other federal, state, county, or private radio systems – and more computer power than exists in all the rest of county government, according to Communications/911 Director John A. Murray.

"This center is a quantum leap forward,” said Murray. “We required our suppliers to deliver functional capabilities that even they didn’t think were possible. We have the technological nucleus here for everything we need to serve and protect Oconee County through 2010 at least. We still have work to do throughout the county to bring the infrastructure up to grade, and there is another 12-18 months of work to enable all the capabilities of the center. But already, the State of South Carolina has declared that this is the model all others should follow. We’ve already had a number of public safety authorities from both inside and outside the state come to learn about what we have here."

When fully operational, the center will receive 911 calls via land line, mobile, Internet, or satellite TV to its 13 dispatcher and supervisory stations. During a significant event or emergency, the center’s 48” by 84” plasma screen prominently displays the availability, locations and activities of its available responders. The center can conduct ‘reverse 911’ emergency calling to residences, businesses and other locations within the radius of the trouble spot.

The center will eventually be linked with the databases of federal law enforcement, National Crime Information Systems, RICO criminal law enforcement computer system, terrorism data banks, and others, according to Murray.

“We are also looking at a model program where the officer on duty will be able to ask questions via his handheld unit and receive a response from any number of information sources,” he said. The center also monitors and operates the county alarm notification system associated with a nuclear power plant.

The County specifications and Stratus design recommendations ensured that critical communications systems, as well as many of the supporting infrastructure systems, are configured with no single points of failure. The department also maintains a disaster recovery site elsewhere in the county.

Among the key suppliers to the new Communications/911 center are: Positron, for the 911 telecommunications system; NewWorld Systems, a public safety software solutions provider whose computer-aided-dispatch (CAD) and database software is installed; and, Stratus Technologies, which, in addition to its assessment and network design services, supplied the continuously available ftServer^® technology to host the mission-critical 911 and CAD operations.

"Our population is growing quite dramatically as people nearing retirement relocate here," said Murray. "Accordingly, the demand for services and expectations for response are increasing at the same time. In addition to the power plant, other hazardous materials pass through Oconee County on their way to storage facilities in Aiken, as well. As it's made clearer every day, no location is immune from being a target of terrorists. People used to consider that 'alarmist' thinking, but no longer. The capabilities we now have to respond to emergencies and calls for assistance, as well as to deter crime, are long overdue."

About Stratus Technologies
Stratus Technologies is a global provider of fault-tolerant computer servers, technologies and services, with more than 25 years of experience focused in the fault-tolerant server market. Stratus^® servers provide high levels of reliability relative to the server industry, delivering 99.999% uptime or better. Stratus servers and support services are used by customers for their critical computer-based operations that are required to be continuously available for the proper functioning of their businesses.

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For more information see the 9-1-1 Magazine article (.pdf) "Oconee County 9-1-1: South Carolina's new 9-1-1 Center Offers Blueprint for Ultra-Reliable Emergency Communications" by Jim Harris, director, segment marketing, Stratus Technologies.