UNH-IOL Advances Public Safety Agencies’ Interoperable Communications Capabilities

Latest Moonv6 Exercise Launches Network for First Responders

DURHAM, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), the networking industry’s premiere independent proving ground for new technologies, today announced a major advancement in the development of new technologies for first responders in emergency situations. Utilizing Moonv6, the world’s largest multi-vendor IPv6 network, UNH-IOL launched the nation’s first interoperable communications network for first responders based on IPv6 – MetroNet6.

“The vision of MetroNet6 is to provide a test bed that public safety agencies in Sacramento, CA can rely on to test interoperability between IPv6 enabled devices, and interoperability with other regions in California, in a controlled setting,” said George Usi, project manager of MetroNet6 for the California IPv6 Task Force and president of Sacramento Technology Group. “We also envision MetroNet6 built out with Wireless MESH capabilities for disaster response exercises and incidents. In the case of a flood engulfing Sacramento for example, MetroNet6 could then support triple-play communications through multimedia 24X7X365 from first responders on the ground in Sacramento to a distant command and control center in order to manage the crisis.”

Engineers working on the June Moonv6 test completed the important first steps towards this vision, including bringing the MetroNet6 network live, building out the MetroNet6 infrastructure, and testing the IPv4 and IPv6 connectivity between Moonv6 and MetroNet6. They also established UNH-IOL as a temporary, redundant command and control center. MetroNet6, an IPv6 based metropolitan network for first responders in Sacramento, will remain up and running permanently.

In an emergency situation, such as a fire or flood, advanced communication systems are usually destroyed or non-existent. This lack of infrastructure limits information sharing about the emergency site, such as an unfamiliar or changing environment, thereby reducing operational effectiveness and putting first responders and those they protect in danger. Public safety agency networks built on IPv6 have many information sharing benefits over walkie-talkies, two way radios or networks built on IPv4. Most importantly, IPv6 powers the deployment of mobile ad-hoc networks. Communications over this type of network, which could be quickly deployed and linked to other networks, would be fast, bi-directional and secure.

“The Moonv6 project is incremental and testing to further advance first responder communications over IPv6 will be ongoing,” said Erica Johnson, IPv6 consortium manager at the UNH-IOL. “We have successfully built a fixed network that can be utilized by IPv6 enabled applications as they are developed. The next steps are to continue to build a mobile network and integrate security enabled applications.”

This latest round of testing across Moonv6, which began June 18 and concluded June 22, took place between UNH-IOL in Durham, New Hampshire and a MetroNet6 point of presence at iStreet Solutions in West Sacramento, CA. Sacramento Technology Group provided project coordination, disaster recovery expertise, information security requirements, design, engineering, and technical implementation assistance for the Moonv6 MetroNet6 launch. Sacramento Technology Group holds a Master Service Agreement with the State of California to assist in the rollout of MetroNet6 for all State of California first responders.

About Moonv6

The Moonv6 project is a global effort led by the North American IPv6 Task Force (NAv6TF) involving the University of New Hampshire - InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), Internet2, vendors, service providers and regional IPv6 Forum Task Force network pilots worldwide. Taking place across the United States at multiple locations, the Moonv6 project is the largest permanently deployed multi-vendor IPv6 network in the world. The U.S. Government’s Department of Defense Joint Interoperability Testing Command (JITC) and other government agencies, the Defense Research & Engineering Network (DREN) and the High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) also play significant roles in the Moonv6 demonstrations ensuring DoD interoperability and migration objectives are identified and demonstrated.

About the University of New Hampshire - InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL)

Founded in 1988, the UNH-IOL is one of the networking industry’s premier third-party proving grounds for developing technologies. Approximately 200 companies use the UNH-IOL to extend their development and quality assurance efforts by testing and fine-tuning technologies, protocols and products for multi-vendor interoperability and conformance to standards. With more than 32,000+ sq. feet, 125 employees and millions of dollars worth of donated networking and test equipment, the UNH-IOL houses the largest heterogeneous networking test bed in North America, if not the world. For more information, visit .http://www.iol.unh.edu.