“In order to do what we did, you had to be able to lead an industry from an old way of thinking to a new way of thinking” — Don Ferguson
MOST Filipinos have probably seen a western movie, TV show or streaming video where a 911 call is used. Whether it be a thriller or a story about resilience in a disaster, the prominence of the 911 emergency call system is widespread, highlighting its importance in keeping the public safe.
Unknown to most Filipinos, there is already an existing 911 emergency call system in the country, courtesy of Next Generation Advanced (NGA) 911 co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Don Ferguson and his team.
One of Ferguson's main drivers is his love for technology. In his early teenage years, technology was just starting to flourish while he was growing up in the state of Montana in a rural area in the United States of America (USA). As early as 13 years old, he has been closing contracts within that state.
“What really inspired me was that [technology] was like a puzzle that you have to figure out. I was always inspired to figure out technology,” Ferguson says.
While this eventually led him to the path of creating and improving technology systems for manufacturing, bank and insurance companies, he has fully shifted to Public Safety.
Starting around 2008 when his young and adventurous 9-year-old son wanted to explore the outdoors more and since Ferguson and his wife had to come up with a way to ensure his safety wherever he may be, Ferguson has used his expertise in technology to develop a personal safety network app.
“I came up with the idea that we should give him a cellphone. Whenever he needed help, he would press a button on the cellphone and everyone who knows, loves and cares about him would get into a conference call. They would know his location, and they'd be able to have an overwhelming response to him when he needed help,” Ferguson recalls.
He has expounded on the possibilities of this application by automatically escalating an issue to the respective authorities such as the police and the hospitals. Even more, he can alert nearby people about an emergency and allow them to aid others. Tinkering on this more, he has made a major breakthrough.
“I wanted to connect public safety into this safety network, and that lead me to discover that the 911 system in the US was old, and it was having a lot of issues adopting modern technology,” Ferguson said.
The said old system has been using landline technology from the 1980s. This technology uses an analog line that intercepts the call from the central office to a 911 center.
What started as a personal desire for his family's safety is now an advocacy of changing the entire public safety infrastructure from the old and ill-equipped technology to a more advanced and capable one. This is the birth of NGA 911.
To allow this vision to be fully realized, Ferguson has worked with former USA president Barrack Obama. Ferguson has engaged in several brainstorming sessions to share his beliefs on how 911 should behave in modern times. He fondly recalls this delightful moment as it has allowed him to learn and spend time with smart people.
Having won contracts with several states including California, the largest state in USA, Ferguson has been able to pave the way for NGA 911 to reinvent public safety.
“In order to do what we did, you had to be able to lead an industry from an old way of thinking to a new way of thinking,” Ferguson says.
Currently, the technology being used in his safety network app has been embedded into the 911 system rather than being an app. Ferguson emphasizes that in cases of emergencies, people need something simple that is quick to remember but is also packed with sufficient services.
Ferguson explains: “The problem with an analog line is just that [it is] not smart. [It] can't do things that [we] take for granted in our cellphones today. So, we had to rethink the way that carriers — such as Globe [here in the Philippines] — can be connected to a 911 center and the subscriber or the caller. What we did is we ripped out all the networking and replaced it with digital infrastructure.”
This digital shift allows the system to be “smarter” by converting voice into data and automatically pinning the caller's location into the map. This technology will then allow the 911 center to see where the caller is, identify the services the caller needs and send these services within proximity of the caller. It allows the system to be more efficient and quicker — just as how emergency responses should be. This technology also allows the system to stay up 24/7, ensuring that anyone who calls will get a response anytime.
“That's where we invested in putting those services behind just simply dialing 911. When [people] dial 911, that's when all of these features trigger. At the end of the day, this is about getting the most accurate response to a caller in the shortest amount of time possible,” he adds.
Now that Ferguson and his team have engendered the success of NGA 911 in the USA, it is time to find growth in other areas of the world. Through a suggestion made by Chief Financial Officer Ishka Villacisneros, a Filipino American, the team has decided to establish a 911 system in the Philippines.
Villacisneros recalls how her lola (grandmother) and lolo (grandfather) were saved by 911, saying “I wanted to bring that experience to the Philippines because I felt like I was blessed to have [911 in the USA.] I feel like everyone here had a lolo or a lola, and I want [Filipinos] to experience what I'm experiencing.”
Ferguson says it has been a challenge to navigate local regulations, build partnerships and ensure that the technology is adapted well to the needs of the country. However, these challenges have only strengthened the resolve of NGA 911 to bring its life-saving technology to the Philippines.
Ferguson refers to Villacisneros's diligent work as the primary driver of NGA 911 in the Philippines. Villacisneros went back and forth from the USA and the Philippines during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. After being referred to multiple agencies, she now liaises closely with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Luckily, DILG and NGA 911 share the same vision. After getting approval of NGA 911's proof of concept and after shipping equipment for the test lab in the middle of the pandemic, NGA 911's work has now paid off. It has been implementing its first operation in Morong, Rizal.
NGA 911 has been successfully online throughout the system of the Philippine National Police since August 8, allowing citizens to contact the police department quickly. Ferguson and Villacisneros have shared an incident where a woman in Marikina used the modernized 911 to report an intruder in her home. With the police appearing at the scene within 4 minutes, NGA 911 has showcased how its technology complies with the US standard.
NGA 911 has partnered with known telecommunication companies and data providers, particularly the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Google, Amazon Web Services and Starlink. These companies help provide a solid infrastructure for NGA 911 and have been welcoming with the technology.
NGA 911 is now experimenting with the expansion of this technology in other countries such as Mexico, Columbia, Peru, South America, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia while the Philippines continues to be the pioneer and the leader of this technology in the region of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. These countries are expected to be on board between 2025 to 2026.
In the future, Ferguson aims to implement further innovative applications. He is also initiating conversations with telecommunications carriers to allow 911 calls to go through even if the caller has zero load balance.
He is also moving into the space of improved situational awareness via video streaming. This will allow better information sharing with a responder, which will result in immediate and better-suited actions. He is also considering implementing artificial intelligence algorithms to make responses smarter and quicker.
Right now, Ferguson envisions a Philippines where every emergency is heard and addressed.
“The vision is that every Filipino citizen [knows that if they want] to get help, they simply dial 911. Anything short of that [means] our mission is not complete,” he says.
Observing how there are frequent 911 calls from children in the USA, he also wants to raise 911 awareness among kids in the Philippines. He implores the government to invest in education and information about the 911 system in order that it can be fully utilized. His advocacy is to push for a simple and standardized number that can be easily recognized in the face of emergencies.
“We really had to make sure that folks here in the Philippines understood that it was possible,” he says.
Ferguson reminds the Filipino people that in the time of their need, there is only one number to remember: 911.
“I envision NGA [911] not just as a technology provider but as a critical avenue for saving lives [such as] providing a mobile command center or portable life saving devices. It's a lifeline that connects people in distress directly to help, ensuring that assistance is only moments away,” Ferguson concludes.
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QUICK QUESTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Lack of safety and security for my kids
WHAT REALLY MAKES YOU ANGRY?
Incompetence
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO WORK HARD?
Understanding that lives are at stake and our technology is never good enough
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY THE MOST?
The success of my children
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE SMALL?
Astronaut
WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
“The Theory of Relativity” by Albert Einstein
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
A proud grandfather, enjoying family; and a protector of citizens across the planet
WHAT IS THE MOST DARING THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE?
Skydiving
IF YOU COULD SHARE A MEAL WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL — LIVING OR DEAD — WHO WOULD THAT PERSON BE?
Albert Einstein
WHAT CELEBRITY WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET FOR A CUP OF COFFEE?
Charlie Chaplin because he was an innovator
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER DO AGAIN?
Nothing. If I had to replay things, I [would] do everything the same
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