First-response technologyAnytime, anywhere communications across all devices enhances collaboration

Published 9 June 2011

Connecticut-based company offers anytime, anywhere communications across all types of devices — allowing public safety, emergency response, and select critical infrastructure entities to communicate and collaborate in the event of an emergency; the system may also be used by the military — in the field thousands of miles away — to alert, and provide information to in real time, domestic emergency agencies

Field-developed intel instantly transferred stateside is the goal // Source: sirran.com

In a National simulated demonstration, U.S., U.K., and Canadian Special Forces raid an insurgent hide-out in Afghanistan and uncover critical information about a terrorist plot that may involve a chemical terror attack planned at or near Hanscom Air Force Base, putting at risk millions in the greater Boston area. With field radios in hand, special operators 9,000 miles away in a distant land instantly communicate with Hanscom Air Force Base Security, Boston Police, and counter terrorism task force commanders at the Boston Regional Intelligence Center and send real-time video, photos, and documents from the field to foil the plot. In the next instant, officers in the field across federal, state, and local agencies are connected and fed key information to coordinate and thwart the attack.

A Mutualink, Inc.’s release reports that with the help of technology from Wellingford, Connecticut-based Mutualink, Inc., this scenario together with other major emergency scenarios will be played out in real-time with war fighters and homeland and public safety security personnel across the United States and at other locations around the world at the 2011 Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID).

CWID is a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed annual event that showcases cutting-edge information technology, focusing on operational shortfalls identified by combatant commanders and government agencies.

Mutualink says its technology is currently being tested by public safety, emergency response, and select critical infrastructure entities in the city of Boston through a multi-agency effort designed to enhance instant emergency communication and collaboration among agencies. The key to such enhanced collaboration is enabling anytime, anywhere communications across all types of devices.

As is the case with Boston and its agencies, the CWID demonstration serves as a national forum to exercise the global real-time capabilities of the platform which connects domestic military and homeland security agencies across the United States and abroad.

Paul Fitzgerald, superintendent of the Boston Police, said: “The Boston Police Department along with our regional law enforcement partners is very happy to be taking part in the CWID exercise. The Boston Regional Intelligence Center is constantly striving to be on the cutting edge in our efforts of intelligence collection and dissemination. This exercise features the use of the latest technology to disseminate critical information in real-time from overseas to our officers on the street. With the ever increasing threat of terrorist activity against our Country, this exercise is of critical importance to local police.”

Colin McWay, president of Mutualink, said CWID is a premier venue for Mutualink to demonstrate that it is possible for military, first responder, and other public and private sector agencies, irrespective of boundaries, to coordinate and collaborate in real-time in a scalable, all hazards, all disciplines manner. “When it comes to emergencies, Mutualink enables a world without borders, and as demonstrated in the recent Japan disaster, a key component of resiliency is the ability for critical partners across all sectors to work together in synchronization,” said McWay.