Since 911 services were centralized, there have been complaints that some callers run into difficulty describing their exact location to operators unfamiliar with the area.

For instance, callers in Kimberley have complained that the operator in Kelowna may not know where they are if they use a local name like Fertilizer Road.

Telus has just implemented enhanced wireless 911 services in the Kootenays using today’s most advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) and triangulation technologies.

The new technology allows Telus and other wireless carriers to pass enhanced location information to 911 operators, helping them to be better able to locate an emergency 911 caller using a wireless device with the applicable technology. The system uses a combination of the most advanced GPS technology available, as well as cell tower trilateration to provide the most accurate possible location information, depending on the handset type. In ideal conditions, Assisted GPS should be able to locate a caller within 50 meters, Telus spokesperson said.