Mutualink Demonstrates Nationwide Multi-Agency Interoperable Communications with Public Safety LTE Network

WALLINGFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mutualink, Inc., specializing in advanced interoperable communications solutions for public safety, emergency management and defense agencies, participated in a multi-agency collaboration demonstration for the utility industry last week during the DistribuTECH Conference in San Diego, January 29 – 31, 2013. Mutualink’s demonstration displayed the capabilities of real-time, anywhere, anytime multimedia collaboration between first responders and critical infrastructure agencies – such as utilities – across wired, commercial broadband, satellite, and public safety LTE networks.

“Mutualink has proven that our inclusive communications platform can deliver interoperability in emergency scenarios, which is critical for effective collaboration and incident response”

Seamless and ubiquitous communications interoperability and information sharing is a key to effective multi-agency response and coordination, yet it continues to be a challenge in emergency situations in most communities throughout the United States. First responders, which include utilities and other critical infrastructure operators, such as hospitals, schools and malls, need to be able to connect and share information in an emergency, using their own agency communication assets. Mutualink’s Interoperable Response and Preparedness Platform (IRAPP) solves this problem and enables community-wide multimedia sharing of radio, voice, text, video, data files and telephone communications in a secure environment. The IRAPP today has more than 1,000 media infrastructure connections from coast to coast.

Attendees at DistribuTECH experienced a live demonstration of Mutalink’s interoperability solution in the Alcatel-Lucent booth. This solution is available today and will leverage utility smart grid technology and public safety LTE connectivity when it becomes available. Using Mutualink’s secure IP-based interoperability platform operating over an Alcatel-Lucent public safety LTE network, users in multiple locations in California, New Jersey, and throughout the U.S. were brought together – using disparate radio, phone, video and data resources – into a secure multiparty multimedia Push-to-Talk collaboration session while also sharing live video and data.

“Mutualink has proven that our inclusive communications platform can deliver interoperability in emergency scenarios, which is critical for effective collaboration and incident response,” said Colin McWay, President of Mutualink. “Delivering these capabilities across a public safety LTE network gives utilities yet another tool for effective, secure, reliable communication.”

The successful demonstration accessing the IRAPP over public safety LTE networks is significant in light of the federal government’s efforts to establish a single nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network. The First Responder Network Authority (“FirstNet”) is responsible for fulfilling this goal. Partnerships between utilities and public safety entities are expected as the technology rolls out.

Mark Hatten, Chairman of Mutualink, said, “Mutualink’s existing system will work seamlessly with FirstNet and provide multimedia connectivity among field users and dispatchers from utilities and the public safety community to help coordinate daily activities as well as emergency incident responses.”

Mutualink has additional demonstration trials and deployments planned in the coming months using public safety LTE, commercial LTE, wired and satellite networks.

About Mutualink

Mutualink, Inc. has developed an interoperable communications platform that enables nationwide multimedia sharing of radio, voice, text, video, data files and telephone communications in a secure environment. Mutualink’s system is currently deployed by more than 1,000 public and private entities worldwide, including homeland security and defense installations, NATO Special Operations Forces, police and fire departments, transit authorities, hospitals, shopping malls, casinos, and more. Mutualink is a privately-held company headquartered in Wallingford, Conn., with R&D facilities in Westford, Mass. and Mayagüez, PR.