If you use Voice Over internet Protocol (VoIP)telephone service you may be harder to find in case of emergency according to police.
The 911 system has enhanced capabilities when accessed through a traditional land line telephone, which includes the ability to pinpoint the address from which the 911 call originated from and this enhanced capability may be limited by an internet based phone.
VoIP allows users to make and receive telephone calls using an internet connection and while its convenient and saves the money of a traditional landline it also has limitations including pinpointing the address and VoIP third party operators may send a request for emergency service to the wrong 9-1-1 Centre or a non-emergency line causing a potential delay in response. Police also say if the caller is unable to speak, or if the call is disconnected, the operator may not have automatic location information to give to 9-1-1 call-takers, access to 9-1-1 service for VoIP customers may not be available during a power failure or if the internet connection is disrupted.
If you move and keep VoIP service you must update your address with the VoIP provider.
There are two types of VoIP services. When offered through cable it provides enhanced service equivalent to that provided by a traditional land line except where basic 911 is provided. It’s called fixed VoIp service.
It’s the Nomadic VoIp service that can create problems. It lets callers access telephone services using any high speed internet connection from any location. Nomadic VoIP service provides Basic 9-1-1 service because there is no fixed address to provide to 9-1-1 operators. The mobility of this service makes it very hard for both service providers and 9-1-1 operators to pinpoint the location of a 9-1-1 call.
More information on VoIP can be accessed at http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/911/can.htm .
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