Verizon exec to public safety: ‘We’re here to stay’
“We’ve had very limited conversations with FirstNet [about interoperability],” Maiorana said. “I think there’s going to be more detailed dialogue in the future. I think we’re going to evolve in our discussions with FirstNet. It really depends on how much FirstNet wants to talk to us.”
Maiorana said he believes there are technical solutions that Verizon can implement to address any key concerns that public safety may have about interoperating with the FirstNet system. And providing public-safety agencies with a choice of providers should be beneficial to the first-responder community, he said.
“There have been examples of similar situations that have served this segment not to the greatest extent in the past that have been ‘single-provider’ type monopolistic situation that have not always provided the best innovation and the best price points or costs,” Maiorana said.
“I believe choice drives innovation, drives best price. There’s a lot that can be done, I believe, from a network perspective—from a software-defined, perimeter perspective—to deliver secure connectivity when and where these customers need it most. That will have to evolve, but we are very open; if FirstNet was interested in talking to us, we’d be very open to talking to them.”