The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a request from a wireless services provider to integrate data from a foreign satellite global positioning system (GPS) into Enhanced 911 (E911) location information.
In an Order issued in late May, the Commission granted a request submitted by T-Mobile USA, Inc. to use data from the European Union’s Global Navigation Satellite System, known as Galileo, as part of T-Mobile’s 911 emergency location services. T-Mobile made the request to “increase the availability, accuracy, and reliability” of its emergency location capabilities.
According to the Commission, “granting T-Mobile’s Request will assist with improving emergency response and saving lives, without increasing the exposure of T-Mobile devices to harmful interference.
Further, the Commission notes that the request meets requirements established by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to approve a previous request made by AT&T to use Galileo to enhance its wireless E911 location services.
Read the FCC’s Order approving the use of GNSS for E9+111 location services.