A new podcast from our colleagues at Government Technology Insider examines a familiar fixture on college campuses and educational institutions nationwide: blue light emergency systems. These systems have helped ensure safety around college campuses through quick and reliable communication during emergencies for over 30 years. While many still rely on outdated copper lines, the podcast highlights how Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology is revolutionizing these systems to offer enhanced reliability, easier maintenance, and new capabilities like live video feeds and AI-driven monitoring. This conversation is essential for understanding how colleges and universities can leverage modern technology to better protect students, staff, and visitors.
Blue light emergency systems, with their unmistakable glow, have become synonymous with safety around college campuses, medical facilities, and other public spaces. These systems serve as lifelines, providing individuals in distress with a direct line to emergency responders at the press of a button. However, the technology that underpins these systems is antiquated, relying on outdated copper lines prone to frequent maintenance and unexpected failures—a serious drawback in situations where every second counts. At the University of Wisconsin, for example, this aging technology has created an economic burden. As University of Wisconsin Police Department spokesperson Marc Lovicott noted, “The emergency phones are all old copper wire landline phones. Because it’s outdated technology, we have to pay the phone company a premium price for those lines.”
In a recent episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host Matt Langan spoke with Dmitry Kupershtok, Federal Senior Solutions Partner, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) at Verizon Business, to explore how FWA is revolutionizing these blue light systems. Kupershtok highlighted that FWA, offers a future-proof solution for modernizing these emergency systems. Unlike traditional copper-based systems, FWA leverages wireless gateways to ensure reliable communication, reducing the risk of failure and making maintenance easier and more efficient.
FWA also brings significant enhancements to blue light systems, aligning them with modern technology through features like live video feeds and AI-driven monitoring. These advancements allow emergency responders to access real-time visual information before arriving at the scene, providing a crucial edge in assessing and managing situations. Additionally, AI can proactively enhance security by detecting and alerting responders to potential threats, even before someone reaches the blue light station.
Kupershtok highlighted the growing adoption of FWA-enabled blue light systems across universities and federal agencies, underscoring the importance of robust, reliable connectivity in safeguarding lives. While challenges like signal strength in enclosed spaces remain, innovative solutions like high-gain antennas are bridging the gap, ensuring these systems work flawlessly when they’re needed most.
As colleges and universities, as well as other organizations that maintain campus-like environments modernize their infrastructure, FWA stands out as a transformative solution. FWA enhances safety and communication through blue light emergency systems, making it a crucial tool in protecting lives and ensuring swift, effective responses in critical situations.
“Fixed wireless access is a quick, easy, and future-proof connectivity solution for these blue light systems. Additionally, with the ability to send voice over our data network, this allows additional functionality to be added, such as live camera and AI integration.”
Listen to the podcast here: