LTE  |  2020-04-15

Public Safety Agencies Rely on ESChat for Secure Broadband PTT Service During their Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

The company offers a sixty day free trial to public safety agencies, including functionality to interconnect ESChat with their LMR radio network.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ESChat today confirmed it is providing mission critical broadband Push-to-Talk (PTT) communication for law enforcement and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) crews across multiple states including Washington, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. This expanded service is a direct result of the COVID-19 emergency, and incremental to the standard level of PTT communication service ESChat provides throughout the year to public safety agencies.

Used by the US Military, as well as federal, state, local and commercial first responder agencies, ESChat is a cellular based broadband PTT communication service that provides a traditional Land Mobile Radio (LMR) 'like' experience without the geographical restrictions of LMR networks. ESChat is often integrated with LMR networks providing a hybrid communication environment where users on LMR radios and ESChat enabled smartphones can communicate with each other. ESChat is a FirstNet Certified™ solution and is also approved for U.S. military operational use by the Defense Information Systems Agency ("DISA").

ESChat supplies PTT service to seven Executive Departments within the federal government, and numerous agencies operating within these Departments. As a provider of PTT service to federal first responders and their contractors, ESChat typically sees expanded use during declarations of disaster. In recent years, ESChat has been used during hurricane responses in Texas, Louisiana, Florida and other gulf states.

"We are humbled to be the provider of communication services to a team of professionals who risk their own safety supporting those in need." said Josh Lober, President/CEO for ESChat. "Our customers are true professionals, and we provide one piece as part of a complex operation that involves constant planning and training. This is a high level of responsibility not lost on our team, as reliable communication is a critical component to mission success."

ESChat offers a sixty (60) day free trial to public safety agencies, including functionality to interconnect ESChat with their LMR radio network. Government agencies can purchase ESChat's subscription service at the GSA price of $4.57 per user per month.