Illinois Completes Statewide Next Generation 911 Upgrades

All 169 public safety answering points now use modern IP-based 911 infrastructure

Mar. 31, 2026 at 1:53am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a futuristic 911 call center control panel with pulsing neon blue and magenta lights, conceptually representing the advanced IP-based infrastructure of the new NG911 system in Illinois.The new NG911 system in Illinois upgrades the state's emergency communications network with redundant, IP-based capabilities to ensure reliable 911 service even in the face of natural disasters or other disruptions.Springfield Today

The Illinois State Police (ISP) has announced the successful completion of Next Generation 911 (NG911) upgrades across all 169 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) in the state. The NG911 system replaces the legacy voice-centric 911 network with a secure, IP-based infrastructure designed to support modern communication methods like text-to-911 and potential future capabilities like photo and video sharing.

Why it matters

The NG911 upgrades improve the reliability and efficiency of 911 emergency services in Illinois. The new system enables geospatial call routing based on the caller's actual location, rather than the location of the nearest cell tower. This reduces the need for call transfers and improves emergency response times. NG911 also provides redundant capabilities to maintain service even if multiple PSAPs are impacted by natural disasters.

The details

The transition to NG911 began in June 2022 with the first PSAP cutover in Grundy County and concluded on March 4, 2026 with the final PSAP in Northbrook completing the switch to the AT&T Statewide ESInet. The upgrades were supported by various regional providers including Comtech ESInet, INdigital ESInet, Motorola ESInet, and AT&T Statewide ESInet. The project involved close coordination between the ISP Division of Statewide 911, local and regional stakeholders, and public-private partners.

  • The first PSAP switched from the old to the new NG911 system in Grundy County on June 21, 2022.
  • The final PSAP cutover to the AT&T Statewide ESInet was completed in Northbrook on March 4, 2026.

The players

Illinois State Police (ISP)

The state law enforcement agency that oversees the Division of Statewide 911 and coordinated the NG911 upgrades across Illinois.

Brendan F. Kelly

The Director of the Illinois State Police.

Alicia Atkinson

The Illinois Statewide 911 Administrator who supported the readiness, testing, and implementation of the NG911 upgrades.

Eileen Mitchell

The AT&T Illinois President who stated the company's dedication to providing reliable, modern emergency communications service in the state.

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What they’re saying

“This milestone reflects years of coordinated work by the ISP Division of Statewide 911, PSAPs, Emergency Telephone System Boards (ETSBs), local and regional stakeholders, and public and private partners.”

— Brendan F. Kelly, ISP Director

“This accomplishment belongs first and foremost to the PSAPs and their ETSBs who did the day-to-day work to prepare, test, train, and transition, while continuing to answer 911 calls every hour of every day.”

— Alicia Atkinson, Illinois Statewide 911 Administrator

“We're dedicated to providing Illinois with reliable, modern emergency communications service. We're honored to support the state's public safety professionals and the communities they protect.”

— Eileen Mitchell, AT&T Illinois President

What’s next

The ISP Division of Statewide 911 will continue to build on the NG911 foundation to strengthen service reliability and expand capabilities statewide.

The takeaway

The completion of Illinois' statewide NG911 upgrades marks a significant milestone in modernizing the state's emergency communications infrastructure. The new system improves 911 service reliability, efficiency, and accessibility, ensuring Illinois residents have access to the latest emergency response technologies.