Dejero, a provider of mission-critical connectivity solutions, recently equipped the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) with its GateWay network aggregation device, providing essential connectivity during the International Black Theatre Festival (IBTF).
Throughout the six-day event, which transformed Winston-Salem into a major performing arts hub and attracted over 65,000 visitors, Dejero’s GateWay was deployed on a FUSUS/Compass Security Solutions mobile surveillance trailer, featuring high-resolution Bosch PTZ cameras. Positioned in a key downtown area, the GateWay ensured a reliable internet backhaul for uninterrupted real-time video streaming to WSPD’s Real-Time Crime Centre (RTCC), enabling swift and efficient responses to potential incidents.
“We didn’t lose a stream,” said Lieutenant Ben Jones, WSPD. “The low-latency connection and clarity of the camera feeds from locations where we previously had little visibility, meant that our RTCC staff could see and respond to unfolding scenarios much quicker and make better-informed decisions to keep our officers and the public safe.”
During the IBTF, the GateWay was deployed in areas where fibre infrastructure was unavailable, and local CCTV feeds relied on a single cell tower, which struggled to provide clear video resolution.
Lt. Jones explained: “At the same sites, during a similarly large public event weeks earlier, we’d implemented traditional mobile connectivity solutions, trying different priority network SIM cards – but we couldn’t achieve a consistent signal or enough bandwidth to be able send hi-res video back to our RTCC. Network congestion due to the large crowds had a major effect. For IBTF, with GateWay, which blends multiple IP networks from multiple carriers together, a seamless connectivity path was created to the RTCC and our situational awareness was vastly improved.”
WSPD aims to become a model agency in integrating innovative technology to enhance policing, solve and deter crime, and improve officer safety and efficiency.
“As we move forward, we’re exploring Dejero’s unique connectivity solutions for a range of applications as part of our Drone First Responder (DFR) program,” Lt. Jones added. “Deploying Dejero units in spots that don’t have a hard-wired connection, for example In remote locations where fibre isn’t available Dejero is a solution we could rely on to provide video feeds and license plate readings to the RTCC. Having a network solution that delivers consistent quality streams allows the RTCC to impart critical information to officers in real time and enable them to make better informed decisions.”
Powered by Dejero’s Smart Blending Technology, GateWay is certified by numerous US nationwide wireless communications networks dedicated to first responders and public safety. Smart Blending Technology combines connectivity from various cellular and IP network providers, including LEO, MEO, and GEO satellites, to create a virtual ‘network of networks’, offering far wider coverage than any single provider could deliver. GateWay is portable and can be set up within minutes, making it ideal for rapid deployment at on-site events.
“From the minute we put [the GateWay] up to the minute we took it down it was like we were on fibre the entire time,” said Lt. Jones. “Our collaboration with Dejero and FUSUS significantly enhances our capability to maintain safety and security. Together we are setting new standards in community protection.”
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