AT&T is making it easier to send pictures to 911 dispatchers

AT&T is updating its next-gen 911 network to give users more efficient ways to share important information with emergency services. Starting in October, AT&T’s ESInet emergency communications platform will make it easier for AT&T customers to share pictures and video messages with supported dispatch centers, helping to quickly explain the situation and better prepare first responders who will arrive on the scene.

The ESInet platform helps 911 dispatch centers process callouts faster and more reliably by replacing traditional analog connections with fiber-based IP networks. Since its launch in 2018, AT&T says 1,700 emergency call centers have now been upgraded to the new communications technology.

Sending multimedia content to emergency dispatchers is currently a complicated process, but AT&T says the incoming update will make it as effortless as texting family and friends. While AT&T will be the first US carrier to support these capabilities, picture and video messaging will be interoperable with other network providers who choose to integrate it.

Emergency multimedia messaging support will roll out alongside security features that provide dispatchers with a dedicated private internet connection to access public safety data from the cloud, helping to protect sensitive emergency information from cyber threats. Select 2026 Toyota vehicles equipped with a built-in AT&T Connected Car SIM will also be able to automatically send crash data to emergency dispatchers, including airbag status and precise vehicle location.