When the federal government selected AT&T to enter a public-private partnership to build and manage FirstNet® we knew it would be a commitment – a commitment to the network, to first responders and to an ecosystem of solutions. AT&T was the only major carrier willing to make the commitment to public safety. It’s why FirstNet stands above commercial offerings. We set out on this historic and critical initiative, listening to public safety, knowing that how they serve communities would be vital.
FirstNet – America’s public safety network – is solving long-standing communications challenges faced by the public safety community by providing a dedicated and highly secure platform for public safety communications.
Now, as FirstNet enters its 4th year in partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), we continue to deliver on our commitment to public safety with a robust FirstNet ecosystem, so public safety can be confident they have the communication tools and interoperability they need no matter their mission.
We listen.
We believe FirstNet is the most important wireless network in the country because it’s serving our first responders and the extended public safety community. And we have a responsibility unlike any other wireless carrier to deliver for America’s first responders. Shaped by the vision of the first responder community and Congress following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet stands above commercial offerings. It is built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the FirstNet Authority – an independent agency within the federal government. The FirstNet network is providing public safety with coverage and capacity when they need it, unique benefits like always-on priority and preemption for first responders, and high-quality Band 14 spectrum. These advanced capabilities help fire, EMS, healthcare workers and law enforcement save lives and protect their communities.
The demands of first responders are evolving, and we’re taking note. Before FirstNet, it was hard for public safety officials to communicate wirelessly and work together to help to save lives due to congestion on commercial networks and interoperability challenges with land mobile radio (LMR) systems, including LMR-to-LTE and agency-to-agency. Now, public safety has FirstNet – and it is not a commercial network. FirstNet is specifically designed with and for public safety, based on what they asked for to advance their communication needs. As America’s public safety network, FirstNet is constantly evolving, partnering with agencies across the country to solve problems and partner in community-focused solutions.
We innovate.
We are at the forefront of providing industry-leading public safety solutions that modernize communications and transform emergency reporting and response. Through our work with Samsung for FirstNet Ready® mobile devices - there are currently 14 Samsung FirstNet Push-to-Talk capable devices - and Samsung’s Mission Critical Push-to-Anything (MCPTX) network technology with LMR interoperability, we brought America’s first responders the first-ever nationwide mission-critical standards-based push-to-talk solution. It is designed to enhance LMR and enable public safety to use their smartphones, feature phones and specialized ultra-rugged devices like they would use a 2-way radio, with highly reliable, high-performance voice, plus video calling and messaging.
And we continue to collaborate with best-in-class technology providers to deliver interoperable, standards based, mission-critical communications options, including Motorola Solutions for their strength in mission-critical communications and LMR interoperability. As public safety’s communications partner, it’s not just a commitment, but our duty to lead the industry and deliver for this vital community.
We give public safety the tools they ask for to advance their communications.
We’re serving America’s first responders with new tools and technologies on their network, growing their ecosystem of mission-centric applications and integrating them into a platform that promotes highly secure, shareable situational awareness. This helps to ensure they have access to the information they need when they need it. In the last year, we’ve announced several mission-ready solutions that expand FirstNet capabilities for public safety:
- FirstNet MegaRange™
- Z-Axis for FirstNet
- Compact Rapid Deployable (CRD)
- LMR Interoperability for FirstNet PTT
- First Responder-Centric 5G
- Motorola Solutions’ MCPTT and Critical Connect
- MissionKeeper® for Public Safety
AT&T continues to expand our mission critical interoperability footprint by enabling highly secure, standards based, tested and certified connections to LMR networks throughout the country. Integrating them into a platform designed to allow revolutionary group communications by integrating smart technology.
From situational awareness, interoperable communications and security capabilities, to additional network assets, always-on priority and, for first responders, preemption, network coverage and spatial awareness tools, we’re giving public safety the mission-ready solutions they need to respond effectively and efficiently to everyday incidents and major disasters. And we’ll continue to drive visionary innovation in lifesaving, public safety technology by continually developing and introducing smart solutions that meet the needs of first responders.
For more about the value FirstNet is bringing to public safety, check out FirstNet.com.
FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
