The first responder governed PSBN Innovation Alliance (PIA) – providing Canadian public safety wireless broadband services governance, international coordination, and strategy for emergency communications – is pleased to announce COMsolve Inc. has joined our rapidly growing and dynamic association as a valued advisory member.

COMsolve Inc. is a Canadian leading-edge Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solution provider, and the Canadian Numbering Administrator.

“The PIA is a crucial step in securing the public safety telecommunication infrastructure for Canada, and with our extended knowledge in wireless technologies – COMsolve is eager to help contribute to PIA’s success,” said Ofir Smadja, CEO of COMsolve Inc.

"We are excited to have COMsolve join the PIA as leaders and experts in Canada’s telecom space, and as our Association continues to grow, we are very fortunate to have COMsolve on board as both advocates and indeed stakeholders in Canada’s 9-1-1 emergency telecommunications posture, given their role as the Canadian Numbering Administrator, providing telephone numbering functions for Canada’s telecommunications industry," said Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Anthony Odoardi. "The PIA looks forward to both innovation and collaboration with COMsolve on all areas of telecom policy in Canada, as we together aim to improve the quality of wireless broadband services for Canada’s First Responders from coast to coast, in light of the many generational technology changes underway in telecom infrastructure for lifesaving 9-1-1 services."

"We welcome COMsolve Inc. to the PSBN Innovation Alliance. As active drivers of the telecommunications industry, they are uniquely positioned to reduce barriers to infrastructure deployment and to accelerate the Alliance’s pursuit of mission-critical communications," said Chief Stephen Tanner of the Halton Regional Police Service. “COMsolve brings valuable regulatory and governance experience to the table; we are fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with them and look forward to bolstering public safety for all.”

Background – PSBN Innovation Alliance

Formed in June 2019, the PSBN Innovation Alliance ("PIA") is a not-for-profit association driving the development of secure, reliable and resilient data communications for First Responders across Canada.

Through the leadership of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, founding members of the PSBN Innovation Alliance alongside the Halton Regional Police Service, Peel Regional Police, City of Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, and many others, PIA association members work together as a not-for-profit entity advocating for public safety agency oversight of the Public Safety Broadband Network. Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Anthony Odoardi is the Managing Director of the PSBN Innovation Alliance.

With a rapidly expanding membership representing over 60 public and private partnership agencies, including first responders, critical infrastructure organizations, transit companies, and high-tech companies, the PIA is leading the way in shaping the Canadian governance framework and technology models required to successfully operationalize RF spectrum set aside for public safety. The PIA continues to advocate as a voice of Canadian Public Safety for telecom policy that fosters the establishment of "always-available" mobile communications for Emergency Responders in support of their lifesaving mission.

The PIA's vision for effective Public Safety communications stems from a desire "To ensure Public Safety agency oversight and collaboration on strategic direction, initiatives, and operations surrounding a shared Municipal Public Safety LTE Core."

Background – Public Safety Broadband Network

Public safety communications needs have seen a rapid evolution and operational revolution in the past decade, with significant increases in the reliance on broadband data as a part of daily 9-1-1 emergency services. In fact, in our collective experience providing 9-1-1 emergency services, we know that data has become as important to 9-1-1 operations as voice communications. From text messages and data files to video and photos, through to new Cloud applications that provide for better field efficiency and coordination in their lifesaving mission to society – emergency responders require reliable access to data during the minutes and seconds that can make the difference between life and death.

Public safety agencies need telecom services that resiliently survive all manner of disasters – both human-made and natural – and the ability for communications to survive in the face of new modern issues, such as Cybersecurity attacks. Effective wireless data service is critical to effective emergency response, and in turn, to saving lives. Unfortunately, commercial broadband services around the world have been shown to provide a level of resiliency and reliability below the threshold required by first responders and critical infrastructure entities during times of need.

A Public Safety Broadband Network (PSBN) is a secure, high-speed, wireless broadband communications network that provides prioritized and exclusive access to wireless data for first responders and commercial critical infrastructure entities that underpin our modern digital society (e.g., electric utilities, rail and transportation networks, transit systems, energy, potable water control systems, airports, naval ports and more).

A PSBN encompasses the 4G and 5G wireless infrastructure, wireless spectrum, user gear, and associated systems that provide for a mission-critical grade of data delivery, so that first responders have access to critical data in moments of need – whenever and wherever they roam across Canada in their lifesaving efforts.

A PSBN is also an essential next step in securing the telecommunications infrastructure for Canada – at an optimal cost point – and in extending digital connectivity to underserved urban, rural, First Nations and remote communities, to enable access to emergency services and critical infrastructure partners that collaborate together in 9-1-1 response. It is well-recognized that in Canada chronic network coverage challenges and gaps remain in rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities, and that emergency events know no geographical boundaries. A PSBN can help foster bridging this rural broadband divide where the current business case for commercial coverage is challenging.

First responders depend on digital data to protect Canadians and improve the operational efficiency and effectiveness of day-to-day mission-critical operations and 9-1-1 response to emergencies. The reliable, resilient, and cyber-secure delivery of digital data to first responders has become as important as traditional voice communications for effective frontline emergency response. A flexible Public Safety broadband system is needed in order to provide the same degree of resiliency and robustness as legacy two-way land mobile radio systems used by first responders – bridging 9-1-1 services for communities across all of Canada’s provinces and territories.

About COMsolve Inc.

COMsolve is a proud Canadian company founded in 2006 that provides solutions for leading-edge Information and Communications Technology (ICT). We provide deployment and professional services to carriers, data centers, service providers, municipalities, and enterprises. COMsolve specializes in turnkey infrastructure deployment solutions such as macro site, small cell, in-building and structured cabling services. Our wealth of experience in regulatory affairs, design, installation, testing and maintaining infrastructure enables our team to ensure the success of your business implementation.

Media Inquiries:

Jennifer Hartman
Manager, Corporate Communications
Halton Regional Police Service
Phone: 905-825-4777 ext. 4904
Email: jennifer.hartman@haltonpolice.ca

Thanyaa Navaneethan
Marketing and Administrative Coordinator
COMsolve Inc.
Phone: 416-915-5008 ext. 117
Email: thanyaa.navaneethan@comsolveinc.com