LOS GATOS, Calif., June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Firetide, Inc., a developer of wireless mesh networks, today shared the company's forward-looking perspective for wireless networking in the public safety market based on its experience deploying public safety networks in 2006 and 2007. More than 50 percent of Firetide's installations include video applications, giving Firetide valuable insights into the challenges public safety agencies face while deploying wireless video surveillance.
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Firetide works with numerous law enforcement and public safety agencies across the U.S. Firetide's deployments include fixed wireless surveillance for high-traffic areas (Dallas downtown), crime deterrence in high-crime areas (Rockford, Ill., Housing Authority properties), covert surveillance for criminal investigations (Phoenix police department), and temporary surveillance networks (Texas State Fair).
"Whether it's a drug crime, a homicide, or a homeland security concern, your best intelligence is going to come from first-line officers on the street. Wireless video surveillance makes their jobs more efficient, which will pay off multiple times for the major crimes we are investigating," said Chris Jensen, detective with the Drug Enforcement Bureau of the Phoenix police department. Jensen spearheaded the use of wireless mesh networking and IP video surveillance cameras for criminal investigations in the Phoenix metro area.
What are the critical success factors for these projects?
-- Draw From Multiple Sources of Funding
Investigate various sources of funding, which may be available from
departmental budgets, homeland security grants, and even private
grants. Additionally, a public safety network can be securely augmented
to provide more services such as public Internet access and voice over
IP.
-- Address Privacy Concerns Head-on
For overt surveillance, adopt written surveillance guidelines and
ensure personnel are properly trained. Inform affected
constituencies-residents, businesses, and media-ahead of time; open
communications and public demonstrations are well received. For covert
surveillance, reassure the public and the media that the surveillance
is conducted strictly within the law.
-- Anticipate Staffing and Training Needs
Police personnel need training on the new monitoring technology -- for
example, remote camera management or mastering the video management
software. Learning curves may vary, so allow for this in the training
process. For large surveillance projects, a creative approach is to
hire retired police personnel who may be interested in working
part-time in the monitoring room.
-- Partner for Success
Seek out system integrators and suppliers who are comfortable with
wireless and IP technologies and who will support you. Interagency
cooperation is also essential for rapid deployment.
-- Consider the Total Infrastructure
Identify the backhaul options-how you will connect the wireless mesh to
the monitoring station-early in the planning stages. Wired and wireless
are both viable options; backhaul can be dedicated or shared with other
local government applications.
"With up to 80 percent lower network infrastructure cost compared to cable, wireless mesh networks make citywide IP video surveillance practical," said Bo Larsson, CEO of Firetide. "Video surveillance offers immediate payback in the form of crime deterrence and reduced personnel needs. Municipalities would be wise to start with public safety as they embark on broadband wireless projects, to avoid the snags many public access deployments are facing."
According to IDC, U.S. shipments of IP cameras will double from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2007 to 2008 - from 190,000 units in 2006 to 390,000 units in 2007 and 775,000 units in 2008. Firetide's mesh technology enables deployment of IP video surveillance where it was previously cost-prohibitive or impractical. Firetide eliminates performance and security concerns attributed to wireless networks. The company's equipment enables real-time video streaming equal in quality to wired networks and provides multiple levels of security, including support for 4.9 GHz licensed public safety band.
About Firetide, Inc.
Firetide is the leading provider of multi-service mesh networks that enable concurrent video, voice, and data for municipal, public safety, and enterprise applications. Firetide HotPort mesh nodes and HotPoint access points provide a reliable high performance wireless infrastructure and access solution for video surveillance, Internet access, public safety networks, and temporary networks wherever rapid deployment, mobility, and ease of installation are required. The company's patented AutoMesh flow-based routing protocol optimizes network performance and capacity for high bandwidth and latency sensitive applications. Headquartered in Los Gatos, California, Firetide is a privately held company with worldwide product distribution. For more information, visit http://www.firetide.com/.
Copyright 2007 Firetide Inc. Firetide and Reliable Connectivity Anywhere are trademarks of Firetide Inc.
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Firetide, Inc.
CONTACT: Ksenia Coffman of Firetide, Inc., +1-408-317-8985,
kcoffman@firetide.com, or Dominic Ybarra of Edelman for Firetide, Inc.,
+1-650-762-2960, dominic.ybarra@edelman.com
Web site: http://www.firetide.com/
