Manatee County Selects Airbus DS Communications' VESTA(R) 9-1-1 Call Handling Solution

TEMECULA, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 6, 2016) - Airbus DS Communications, Inc., an entity of Airbus Defense and Space, recently completed an upgrade in Manatee County, Fla. to the company's Next Generation VESTA® 9-1-1 call handling solution. The County selected Airbus DS Communications' technology to strengthen public safety communications and capabilities in the community, laying the foundation for Next Generation capabilities.

The Manatee County emergency communications system is comprised of four public safety answering points (PSAPs), which serve the area's 350,000 area residents. In total, the county has approximately 45 call taking positions that process more than 250,000 emergency calls a year. The district has been an Airbus DS Communications 9-1-1 customer since 2006.

"Throughout the installation process, Airbus DS Communications provided endless support and hands-on training to ensure a smooth transition for our team," said Bob Smith, Director of Public Safety, Manatee County Government. "With the new VESTA 9-1-1 platform, we are confident we can continue to provide dependable and responsive public safety communications now and into the future."

"Public safety officials seek trusted 9-1-1 providers and systems that will ensure reliable service today, and for decades to come," said Bob Freinberg, CEO of Airbus DS Communications. "With our new VESTA^® platform, Manatee County is equipped with advanced and adaptable technology to easily integrate future tools and capabilities, such as text-to-9-1-1, as well as meet Next Generation 9-1-1 standards."

The new 9-1-1 system is geo-diverse, with the four separate locations supported by two backroom systems that can operate the entire 9-1-1 network independently should one fail during large scale emergencies, such as hurricanes. In addition, the system also features the VESTA intuitive user interface, which makes it easy for call takers to quickly change locations, monitor and respond to calls in queue, countywide.

Airbus Defense and Space
Airbus Defense and Space, a division of Airbus Group, is Europe's number one defense and space enterprise and the second largest space business worldwide. Its activities include space, military aircraft and related systems and services. It employs more than 38,000 people and in 2015 generated revenues of over 13 billion Euros.

Airbus DS Communications, Inc., an Airbus Defense and Space Holdings, Inc. company, is a global leader and trusted source for mission-critical communications technologies. The VESTA^® product suite provides Next Generation 9-1-1 call processing systems, land mobile radio solutions and emergency notification applications, creating smarter ways to keep all our communities safe.