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AT&T Now Using Device GPS Location for 911 Call Routing

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AT&T today announced the launch of a new location-based routing system for emergency calls in the United States, with the system designed to transmit wireless 911 calls to the appropriate 911 call centers based on a device's GPS location.

att-location-based-routing-911-calls.jpg

According to AT&T, this is the first-ever nationwide location-based routing initiative, which it is launching in partnership with Intrado. AT&T says that the "Locate Before Route" feature will allow AT&T to identify where a 911 call is coming from within 50 meters of a device's location.

The GPS-based routing is an improvement over prior 911 call routing that relied on the location of cell towers, which can cover up to a 10-mile radius, resulting in slower emergency response times. With calls directed to the appropriate 911 call centers, first responders can get to the correct location more quickly.
AT&T is paving the way to create safer communities and is the only carrier to provide the most accurate solution to reduce wireless 9-1-1 call transfers beyond what the FCC is requiring carriers today. This is especially important in an emergency when lives are on the line.
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AT&T has started rolling out the GPS-based routing system, and it is live in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Guam. It will be coming to additional regions over the next several weeks, and the nationwide rollout is scheduled to be completed by the end of June.

Article Link: AT&T Now Using Device GPS Location for 911 Call Routing
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/05/10/att-device-gps-911-call-routing/
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Amazing that it took this long for a service provider to implement such basic-seeming method. Hopefully this addresses the sometimes-wonky, easily-out-of-sync-or-inaccurate “emergency address” wifi calling system, which I have had backfire during a medical emergency once when staying in a different city.

And hopefully other telecoms soon follow suit.
 
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Jakewilk said:
Can wifi calls reach 911?
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Absolutely! Though the address information provided to 911 via WiFi calling has to be manually set within your carrier account. All American carriers require an address to be set in order to enable WiFi calling, but this address must be manually updated when your location changes in order to provide the correct info in the event of an emergency call.

I’m not sure if AT&Ts implementation makes any difference in this regard or not; I haven’t looked into it closer yet.
 
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Well, I think this is a terrific development. If I am in a situation where I need to call 911, this gives me the added confidence that they will know where I am even if I am incapacitated.

I also would add that with my Apple Watch, if a shock or fall is detected, then the 911 call would be similarly triggered.

I very much appreciate that this is now in place. Thank you AT&T!!
 
NoGood@Usernames said:
Absolutely! Though the address information provided to 911 via WiFi calling has to be manually set within your carrier account. All American carriers require an address to be set in order to enable WiFi calling, but this address must be manually updated when your location changes in order to provide the correct info in the event of an emergency call.

I’m not sure if AT&Ts implementation makes any difference in this regard or not; I haven’t looked into it closer yet.
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this is why I dont bother turning it on, makes sense to enable when one is at home. otherwise, may as well turn it off any time you leave the house
 
The carrier is saying they'll relay the call to the appropriate dispatch center. What it does NOT say, is whether they also are going to pass along the GPS coordinates of the caller. I mean, good that they can get the call to the right town, so the first responders know you're within their town, but do you still have to explain to the dispatcher where you are, or have they worked out a way to transmit the coordinates along with the call?
 
Quartz Extreme said:
This wasn't already a thing?! In 2022?
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As the article stated, location has always relied on cell tower triangulation. That is something, as anyone with an original iPhone, can attest is incredibly vague and generalized.

AT&T could try to implement a system to have GPS data relayed to 911 when you dial them, but I can already read people going up in arms due to "privacy". So yeah, AT&T has developed a method to implement this without gaining access to your phone's GPS. Quite outstanding looking at it from an engineering prospective.
 
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50 meters is the length of an olympic sized swimming pool. That is close but still will be complicated if you are in a city. I would rather have them use my GPS for the coordinates for 911 calls.
 
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hagjohn said:
50 meters is the length of an olympic sized swimming pool. That is close but still will be complicated if you are in a city. I would rather have them use my GPS for the coordinates for 911 calls.
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Agreed. The only problem with that is that you'll have to allow AT&T access to your device so they can relay that info to the government. See where people will go up in arms?
 
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ds10 said:
The carrier is saying they'll relay the call to the appropriate dispatch center. What it does NOT say, is whether they also are going to pass along the GPS coordinates of the caller. I mean, good that they can get the call to the right town, so the first responders know you're within their town, but do you still have to explain to the dispatcher where you are, or have they worked out a way to transmit the coordinates along with the call?
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That would depend upon the 911 center. If they are on at least what is called next gen 911 and use DBH then they could get your GPS location prior to this.

Edit: Even the older E911 could get GPS on calls. AT&T started using device based GPS for location in 2006 instead of triangulation.
 
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Eorlas said:
this is why I dont bother turning it on, makes sense to enable when one is at home. otherwise, may as well turn it off any time you leave the house
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The irony is I have my home address in as the WiFi calling location, but I'm almost never on WiFi calling at home because the cellular signal is incredibly strong.

But I'm always on WiFi calling at work since there's almost no signal in our building. I should probably put my work address in! :)
 
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Now watch how quickly the ...other guys roll out this very same feature onto their own Networks. Whoooosh!
 
Great, now figure out a way for me to call 911 for a location other than where I am.
 
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