firstnet
Latest
AT&T adds 5G to its public safety network
AT&T is giving first responders on its FirstNet public safety network access to 5G+ in parts of 38 cities, starting in Houston.
AT&T's public safety network knows which floor first responders are on
AT&T has upgraded its FirstNet first responder network with new support for vertical GPS, walkie talkies and rural emergencies.
AT&T's giant blimp will provide network coverage to first responders
FirstNet, the nationwide broadband network for first responders being built with AT&T, just added a giant blimp to its arsenal. The 55-foot aerostat, dubbed FirstNet One, is meant to hover over disaster sites and provide wireless communication for first responders. AT&T says it will provide better coverage than FirstNet's other assets and be able to remain in the air for longer.
A sheriff's office in Colorado is using Galaxy S9s as body cameras
Deputies in the Kit Carson County Sheriff's Office in Burlington, Colorado, are wearing Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphones on their vests. The phones serve as body cameras and run on AT&T's LTE-based FirstNet public safety platform. In addition to recording footage, they serve as personnel locators, digital cameras and secondary radios.
AT&T opens its public safety network to volunteer first responders
AT&T's approach to a public safety network has been available for a while, but only for emergency crews that supply phones and plans. That's not much good if you're a volunteer firefighter or otherwise have to bring your own device. However, you won't be out of the loop for long. AT&T has launched FirstNet plans for first responders who have to use personal accounts, whether they're volunteers or careerists. You'll need to be verified and use a FirstNet-friendly device like the Galaxy S9 or V35 ThinQ, but you'll use the same dedicated emergency network as other crews.
AT&T launches the base of its FirstNet public safety network
After roughly a year of partnership, AT&T's LTE-based FirstNet public safety network is starting to come alive -- the carrier has launched the service's network core nationwide. The rollout provides the foundation for a communications network devoted solely to emergency crews, with multiple priority levels and toughened security that includes around-the-clock monitoring. This doesn't represent full-fledged service, but it's now more a matter of weeks than months.
All 50 states opt in to AT&T’s FirstNet public safety network
FirstNet, the nationwide broadband network for first responders, will be the official public safety network for all 50 US states. The network has been a very long time coming. Having been initially proposed following the 9/11 attacks, the FCC approved LTE to be the standard on which it would function back in 2011. In March, AT&T was selected by the First Responder Network Authority to build and run the network and in June, the company began sending its plans to state governments for review. States had until yesterday to decide whether they would opt in or out of the program and all 50 decided to approve it. Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands also opted in while American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have until March 12th to make their decisions.
AT&T offers state governments its emergency LTE network
FirstNet's priority LTE network for first responders is a long time coming. Now that its deal with AT&T means the project is finally moving forward, some states' firemen and EMTs might have a dedicated network for communication very, very soon. The partners have begun presenting US states and territories with individual State Plans detailing what they'll get. Each State plan comes fully funded and won't cost local governments additional financial resources, but governors can still choose to opt out if they want to build their own network and to conjure up their own plans.
