Fast Forward Interview: Manlio Allegra, Polaris Wireless

Telephony Online
October 17th, 2005

As the Federal Communications Commission’s Dec. 31 deadline for implementation of E-911 capability by wireless carriers looms, Sprint Nextel is petitioning the FCC for an extra two years to meet the mandate. Polaris Wireless is one of the vendors providing technology to equip network operators to meet the mandate, while also offering innovative location-based services. Telephony’s Dan O’Shea recently spoke with Manlio Allegra, president and CEO of Polaris Wireless, about the mandate and the future market prospects for location-based service.

On the FCC’s Dec. 31 mandate: The mandate is for the network operators to achieve penetration of 95% of handsets with E-911 technology by Dec. 31. There have been delays in the past, and not much was happening, but 2005’s progress is a lot different than 2002, when nothing much was happening. All the Tier 1 operators have deployed the technology to a large extent, and I can tell you that they are taking this very seriously. Most likely, a lot of carriers won’t achieve the FCC mandate this year, but they will do so over time. Still, carriers can’t force the market penetration of handsets. They can’t force users to change handsets. There are also other issues. The 911 PSAPs have to be technologically ready, and in some states around the country, funds that had been intended for PSAP upgrades have been diverted to other areas.

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