The Advantages of Cellular Alarm Monitoring Communications
Owning or operating a commercial business means it’s vital to have fire and life safety systems in place. And those systems should have reliable, adequate and effective means of communication with their respective central monitoring stations.
In the unfortunate event of a fire at your facility, would local authorities be alerted and arrive on-site with enough time to keep everyone safe and prevent losses of your valuable assets or critical business infrastructure? Even the best, most expensive security, fire and life safety system is only as good as its weakest link.
When fire is detected, from any kind of sensor, your system will send a signal to the central monitoring station. Central monitoring stations will verify the emergency and relay the need for the proper local authorities to respond appropriately.
The signal from your alarm panel to the monitoring station can be sent via cellular or landline.
While landlines were once a state-of-the-art, efficient and reliable communication method to transmit emergency alarm signals, newer technologies have evolved, now making them less desirable. Cellular is currently more secure, as well as more advantageous.
Advantages of Cellular Alarm Communications
With cellular alarm communications in place, you’ll have the following advantages:
Reliability
Landlines are more physical in nature and can be vulnerable to burglars, power outages, construction, and the elements (wind, rain, snow, storm events), all of which can sever the communications connection.
Cellular-based alarm systems use the same reliable network of cell towers used by everyone’s mobile phone. When your system uses cellular, instead of a landline, the system connects through cell towers rather than land-based phone lines to transmit alarm signals to the monitoring station. Cellular communication between your facility panel and your central monitoring station happens with or without electrical power in the facility. Ensuring the notification gets through even if the power is out and landlines are down.
Continuous Protection
“Check-in” status updates can be made every 5 minutes with cellular systems, and can be automated to do so continuously, alerting when the system isn’t functioning as it should. Landline systems also do this, but only every 24 hours, which means if a landline system is down it could be down for as long as a full day without anyone being aware of a problem.
Vast Coverage
Risk can be diversified when alarm signals are sent through one of the many, many cellular towers available. As opposed to having just one landline-based phone line passing critical information from the same location and from the same place. Critical emergency signals will not reach the central monitoring station if any of those lines are damaged due to fire, vandalism, sabotage, weather, construction, or other calamities.
Alert Signals are Faster
Landline systems can take anywhere from 20 to 30 seconds to transmit a signal. Cellular communication happens immediately in real-time.
Easier Installation
Cellular communications systems are less invasive when they’re installed; they require fewer parts which also means fewer breakdowns. In addition, equipment installed in the panel for cellular communication puts more control in the hands of your security provider, and less in the phone company. This rebalancing of control makes it easier to service your equipment by a single provider with a unified goal.
Cost-efficiency
New cellular communications technology can provide more value, lower costs and improve ROI.
For example, eliminating a dedicated landline can save you from an ongoing recurring monthly expense.
With all these advantages, it’s easy to see why business facilities use cellular alarm systems instead of landline options. The safety of your occupants and the protection of your valuable assets are more important than anything else. Avoid potential connectivity issues. Go cellular.
If you need to consider a new alarm communication system, contact ProNet today, and we’ll walk you through all of the options available for your unique situation, including full compliance with local fire codes specific to Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
ProNet Security proudly serves Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma with 30 years of experience. Complete security solutions including Video Surveillance, Intrusion, Access Control, Fire Alarms, UL 681 and 2050 certified, Cloud-Based Solutions and 24-hour UL Listed Monitoring. From Healthcare to financial institutions, Government, Cannabis, Jewelry and more. 24/7 client support provided.