In the field

News

FCC will release its review guidelines for FirstNet opt-out states by Q2 2017, official tells Congress

States and territories considering the pursuit of the FirstNet opt-out alternative will know how the FCC will review opt-out proposals to deploy the radio access network (RAN) within their jurisdictions by the time state plans are delivered during the second quarter of 2017, an FCC official told Congress.

News

FCC official addresses T-Band issue during hearing before Congress

Public-safety agencies depending on LMR communications systems operating on T-Band spectrum should experience “no loss of service—no loss of continuity” as a result of a federal mandate that requires public-safety licensees to clear the airwaves in five years, an FCC official said in testimony before Congress.

News

Raytheon closes JPS Communications business unit

Raytheon informs dealers that its JPS Communications business unit—best known for its portfolio of land-mobile-radio (LMR) interoperability products—has been closed, citing the fact that the JPS products “no longer align” with Raytheon’s business strategy.

News

LTE standards body set to complete mission-critical PTT standard in March

A standard for mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) over LTE is on track to be completed in March, according to an official with 3GPP, which oversees the development of standards for LTE technology. If the standard is completed as scheduled, MCPTT-capable LTE devices likely would be commercially available within two years, according to most industry sources.

Commentary

Want to keep track of FirstNet’s progress? Here are some key dates, milestones to remember

When is FirstNet going to be built and provide the kind of reliable broadband services that the public-safety community has been seeking for the past decade? Here’s one projection, based on FirstNet’s RFP, current law and target deadlines for the key LTE standards body.

Impact Power Technologies: Ken Murphy discusses extended battery life, recent wins in California

Ken Murphy, chief operating officer (COO) for Impact Power Technologies, highlights the benefits of his company’s lithium-polymer replacement batteries, as well as a recent contract win with the police department in Murrieta, Calif., during this conversation with IWCE’s Urgent Communications Editor Donny Jackson.

News

Georgia county upgrades to new P25 system, consoles from Motorola Solutions

Fulton County—the largest county in Georgia, which includes the city of Atlanta—recently began operations with its first significant public-safety-communications upgrade in 20 years with the implementation of a new P25 system and dispatch consoles from Motorola Solutions, according to county officials.

News

Wireless carriers are key to successful FirstNet RFP bid. Which are interested?

A wireless carrier may not be the prime contractor for FirstNet, but the general consensus is that a carrier (or multiple carriers) will have to be part of any winning proposal to build and operate the nationwide public-safety broadband network. Which carriers might be interested, and why?

Program finalized for IWCE’s Network Infrastructure Forum; advanced registration ends next week

New at IWCE 2016 is the Network Infrastructure Forum, hosted by IWCE and AGL Media Group, which will feature a content-rich program that examines hot topics in the space, from towers to small cells and in-building solutions. But register before Jan. 29 to take advantage of discounted pricing.

News

FirstNet outlines four phases of RFP evaluation process during webinar

Bidders responding to the FirstNet request for proposal (RFP) that was released that week will need to complete a four-phase process to be selected to build and operate the proposed nationwide public-safety broadband network, officials representing FirstNet said during a recent webinar on the topic.

News

FCC will release its review guidelines for FirstNet opt-out states by Q2 2017, official tells Congress

News

FCC official addresses T-Band issue during hearing before Congress

News

Raytheon closes JPS Communications business unit

News

LTE standards body set to complete mission-critical PTT standard in March

Commentary

Want to keep track of FirstNet’s progress? Here are some key dates, milestones to remember

Impact Power Technologies: Ken Murphy discusses extended battery life, recent wins in California

News

Georgia county upgrades to new P25 system, consoles from Motorola Solutions

News

Wireless carriers are key to successful FirstNet RFP bid. Which are interested?

Program finalized for IWCE’s Network Infrastructure Forum; advanced registration ends next week

News

FirstNet outlines four phases of RFP evaluation process during webinar

Commentary

September 3GPP Plenary: 6G officially begins, Release 19 on track

Latest 3GPP standards-development work includes new classes of HPUE, progress on mission-critical services

Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority?

Video

Check out key takeaways from Disaster Management Symposium webinars, register to view archives

Video: Opening of the Expo Hall on day three of IWCE 2023

Lynk CEO Charles Miller: The sky’s the limit

Events

UC Ezines

IWCE 2019 Wrap Up