PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point)

PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) is a physical or virtual entity where 9‑1‑1 calls are delivered by the 9-1-1 Service Provider.

Related Terms:

Primary PSAP

A PSAP to which 9‑1‑1 calls are routed directly from the 9‑1‑1 Control Office.

Secondary PSAP

A PSAP to which 9‑1‑1 calls are transferred from a Primary PSAP.

Alternate PSAP

A PSAP designated to receive calls when the primary PSAP is unable to do so.

Consolidated PSAP

A facility where multiple Public Safety Agencies choose to operate as a single 9‑1‑1 entity.

Legacy PSAP

A PSAP that cannot process calls received via i3-defined call interfaces (IP-based calls) and still requires the use of CAMA or ISDN trunk technology for delivery of 9‑1‑1 emergency calls.

Serving PSAP

The PSAP to which a call would normally be routed.

NG9-1-1 PSAP

This term is used to denote a PSAP capable of processing calls and accessing data services as defined in NENA’s i3 specification, NENA-STA-010, and referred to therein as an “i3 PSAP.”

Virtual PSAP

An operational model directly enabled through NG9-1-1 features and/or network hosted PSAP equipment in which telecommunicators are geographically dispersed, rather than working from the same physical location. Remote access to the PSAP applications by the dispersed telecommunicators requires the appropriate network connections, security, and work station equipment at the remote location. The virtual work place may be a logical combination of physical PSAPs, or an alternate work environment such as a satellite facility, or any combination of the above. Workers are connected and interoperate via IP connectivity.

Relevant NENA Documents
Note: To find and download the document, copy the document number (like NENA-STA-010) from below and search the NENA Standards and Documents page.

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• NENA-STA-010, NENA i3 Standard for Next Generation 9-1-1
• NENA-INF-025, NENA Virtual PSAP Management Information Document