Mutualink enables the secure sharing of communication and data content for streamlined operations and security within and among the entities pictured above. In our complex society, Federal, State and municipal governments and the private sector need to better communicate within and among organizations in a secure fashion without geographic bounds.
Mutualink simply places radio, video and data media onto whatever wired or wireless IP connectivity exists, secures it and enables it to be shared within and outside that organization. Mutualink is uniquely able to accomplish this through a distributed architecture and security. The architecture ensures sovereignty of the network participants; no other agency can reach in and access media that is not theirs. The security in the architecture eliminates outside threats to the content.
Mutualink overcomes the public safety challenges of needing to keep communications siloed and private in some cases, while needing to collaborate with other agencies and jurisdictions in other cases. As we evolve from a close-knit narrowband neighborhood to a wide-reaching broadband world, the benefit of sharing video and data is as important as the need to share voice.
After action reports frequently cite lack of communications as a point of failure during both exercises and actual incidents such as active shooters. Recommendations often include implementing technology to facilitate bridging of disparate radio systems when multiple agencies and jurisdictions respond to a single event. In these cases, the goal is to share situational awareness – a goal on which Mutualink is focused. Mutualink enables the secure onboarding of media and content regardless of the type (e.g. voice, video, information) or method of connectivity.
Mutualink provides secure interagency and cross-border communications with a network of networks. We offer an invitation-based IP network that bridges any media – voice, video and data – shared from any device. The Interoperable Response and Preparedness Platform (IRAPP) network supports the interconnection of land mobile radio (LMR), VoIP push-to-talk, wireline, cellular, satellite telephone, public address and intercom systems. Schools and private enterprise can stream live video (analog or IP) without giving up control.
For public safety, interoperable communications means overcoming the limitations of radio, video and information siloes. As a first responder priority, it means that local, state, territorial and federal agencies and private entities can collaborate to resolve incidents, regardless of whether they have a previously-executed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). It means that no one needs to give up control of their radios or video management systems. Most importantly, it means never having to hear a dispatcher say, “I don’t know how to bridge the systems.”
The result and intent of highly coordinated communications is to reduce the time it takes to resolve incidents. In worst-case scenarios, saving time means saving lives. Even in daily altercations, time saved results in avoided escalation. In repeated drills and exercises, Mutualink technology is proven to reduce time to incident resolution by as much as 50%.
Mutualink was a proud technology partner for a mock disaster drill in Arizona led by state, local, and tribal public safety agencies. The exercise included testing of Band 14 interoperability, in advance of the much-anticipated roll-out of FirstNet Public Safety Broadband Network.