“[FLOW
Jamaica is] currently providing this service for all other public telecoms
service providers at a loss. In other words, we have been subsidising the
service with no additional funding”
FLOW Jamaica comments
on their desire to cease being the host of the centralised emergency operator
service
Calling
110, 112, 119 and 911 may be soon run by Public or Private Sector Interests. And
it may come with a side serving of advertising!
For
those of you who don't own a Telephone Director and hardly make calls anyway:
1.
110 - Emergency Contact for Police
2.
112 - Emergency Contact for Police
3.
115 - Repair Services
4.
116 - Hurricane Update
5.
117 - Time and Date
6.
119 - Direct Contact to the Police
7.
811 - King Fish
8.
911 - Fire or Ambulance Services
These
Services, hosted by FLOW Jamaica, are free of charge. All calls to these
emergency numbers, be if from a Digicel or FLOW Fixed Line or Mobile number,
are handle by FLOW Jamaica. FLOW Jamaica want this to change, as being the
Nation’s Call Center for Emergencies makes no revenue for them, with 110, 112
and 119 going straight to the Police.
The
OUR (Office of Utilities Regulation) agrees, as stated on their Website, quote:
“It has, therefore, become necessary to conduct an overall review of emergency
service access arrangements in Jamaica and to propose technically,
economically, and operationally feasible alternative means of accommodating the
end-to-end process of call initiation, handling, and forwarding to emergency
services providers for timely and successful dispatch of emergency assistance”.
FLOW
Jamaica has informed the OUR that it will no longer host a centralised
emergency operator service through its network. Instead, it wants all telecoms
providers to offer the service to their own subscribers.
So
who will handle these calls if FLOW Jamaica were to cease providing these
essential services?
FLOW Jamaica and the
centralised emergency operator - Upset with the OUR since 2014
FLOW
Jamaica, since 2014, has been advocating that each Telecom Provider should
provide these services to their customers, as per the revised
Telecommunications Act of 2012. The specific section of the Act requires Telecom
Providers provide emergency operator service for the purposes of making calls
to numbers in the National Numbering Plan i.e. Calling 110, 112, 119 and 911,
ect.
This
as they do not make money from providing the service; it's partially subsidized
by the State via the USF, but as it makes no money for them as it's a loss
making burden.
110
and 119 short codes have been in Jamaica for the past 45 years ago, with 112
and 911 being introduced to replace 110 in 2011. When calls are received by the
centralised emergency operator service, the operator routes the call to the
appropriate emergency service based on Geographic locations to quote the OUR:
“...from the information obtained from speaking directly with the caller - and
thereby endeavouring to ascertain the caller's precise location - is able to
forward the call to the correct emergency service provider at the nearest
geographic location to the caller”.
Albeit
it hasn't been announced, but what this all means is that at some point, these
services may soon be handled by a Call Center, most likely paid through the USF
(Universal Service Fund), the current arrangement with FLOW Jamaica. To quote
the OUR: “...based on an understanding that it will be funded from the
Universal Service Fund until alternative arrangements are put in place by the
responsible ministry”.
So
how would such a Call Center Make money from providing emergency operator
service?
Funding the emergency
operator service Call Center - USF and Advertising on smartphones is Possible
One
way, aside from the USF subsidy, would be via running the emergency operator
service Call Center in such a way that it reduces its overall expenditure. This
thinking has become necessary, as the problem of running an emergency operator
service Call Center is being faced by FLOW Jamaica is universal to all Telecom
Providers around the world.
Such
a Call Center, most likely partially owned by the Ministry of National Security
and a Private Sector contractor, could run on Solar Power, reducing its need to
use JPS Co (Jamaica Public Service Company) Electricity. Cooling could be done
via natural evaporation techniques and the building designed to reduce heat
wastage, keeping it cool enough for the Servers to work.
But
monetization of some sort would be necessary.
A VoIP App on smartphone enables so as to be used without a Data
Plan might also be an option. This facility would be provided in the same way
that the Telecom Providers already make 110, 119 and 112 work on any phone
without the need for a SIM Card or credit on the phone.
So
why not emergency operator service Call Center accessed via a VoIP App that's free to use without a Data Plan or Credit on the phone? After all, it’s to be
used for Emergency purposes.
Then
to make money, the App would be designed to serve Ads for Government Agencies,
Ministries as well as select Private Sector Companies on the homescreen as well
as within the App itself.
Additionally,
voice calls, texts and IM (Instant Messages) through the Stay Alert App would
have ads inserted before each call, allowing them to be monetized. The Voice
call would have voice ads and the Texts and IM would have short text or picture
ads with a link to the Government or Company website.
These
participating Government and Private Sector advertisers would be billed for
advertising on the Stay Alert App, being as users of the App would technically
be a captive audience. It would allow the Stay Alert App to make money not only
for the Ministry of National Security, but also the Call Center.
Once
the number of Jamaicans that have the Stay Alert App reaches critical mass, the
revenue from advertising via the Stay Alert App will become significant. This
revenue, plus the subvention from the USF, could fund the emergency operator
service Call Center.
Until
then, Anything is Possible!