T-Mobile dedicates 5G network slice to first responders

T-Mobile is launching “T-Priority,” a network slice for first responders supported by T-Mobile’s 5G standalone core network. The other two major US wireless carriers have their own existing services prioritizing first responder connectivity – Verizon Frontline and AT&T’s FirstNet.

In 2023, Verizon said it had around 5.1 million public safety connections across more than 30,000 public safety agencies. At the time, AT&T reported nearly 4.4 million FirstNet connections across 25,000 agencies.

*Update: AT&T noted that as of Q2 2024, the service provider has over 6.1 million FirstNet Connections across 28,500 public safety agencies and organizations.

“FirstNet is a dedicated communications platform for public safety, not a commercial offering – it is a unique network purposefully developed based on direct feedback from public safety and overseen and validated by the federal government,” an AT&T spokesperson said in an email to Light Reading.*

T-Priority was developed together with New York City, which will also be its first location covered.

“T-Priority is the world’s first 5G network slice for first responders with lower latency, faster speeds and priority across not just one lane, but all the lanes, not on LTE, but on 5G – dynamically able to be delivered to the nation’s first responders,” said T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert during T-Mobile’s Capital Markets Day this week.

During rare situations of “extreme congestion,” T-Mobile’s network slice will maintain a minimum service level for first responders and 911 calls on the network, said Callie Field, President of T-Mobile Business Group.

First responders “are being held back by dated 4G LTE infrastructure,” said Field, explaining that they face congestion and insufficient speeds for data-intensive technologies such as drones and 5G security cameras. T-Mobile can connect the first 140 emergency responders on its network when an emergency happens, whereas AT&T and Verizon can support the first 100 responders, she said.

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