News AT&T announces Dallas, Atlanta, Waco as three of first cities to receive 5G service 21st February 2018 Parts of Dallas, Atlanta and Waco will be among the dozen cities this year where AT&T will deploy standards-based, mobile 5G services that ultimately will provide users with low-latency connectivity and data rates of multiple gigabits per seconds, the carrier announced today.
News FirstNet gets three new board members, while one spot remains open 8th February 2018 U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross appoints three new FirstNet board members and the appointment of another board member to three-year terms, leaving the FirstNet board with one open seat and no clear state-government representative among its current membership.
News Motorola Solutions touts strength of LMR business, particularly in North America 5th February 2018 Motorola Solutions reports record revenue, cash flow, operating earnings and backlog for 2017, driven largely by land-mobile-radio (LMR) sales in both the public-safety and commercial sectors, company officials said during a conference call reviewing fourth-quarter (Q4) and year-end financial results.
News AT&T CEO highlights FirstNet role as ‘foundation’ to carrier’s 5G plans 1st February 2018 FirstNet was AT&T’s top strategic initiative last year, and the telecom giant has begun construction of the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN), which will “prove to be the foundation for taking wireless network performance to a completely new level,” according to AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson.
News In-building coverage for FirstNet wanted, but many details remain unknown 31st January 2018 In-building coverage for FirstNet is important for public safety, but consensus policies still need to be developed and considerable education is needed to make in-building coverage for first responders subscribing to the nationwide FirstNet system a reality, according to speakers on a panel exploring the topic.
News Brazos County Sheriff Office becomes first public-safety agency in Texas to subscribe to FirstNet 26th January 2018 Officials for the Brazos County Sheriff Office announce that it is the first public-safety agency in Texas to subscribe to FirstNet services provided by AT&T, joining a handful of early adopters already using the much-anticipated nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN).
News Verizon preemption service ‘available’ to public-safety customers but not necessarily ‘enabled’ 20th January 2018 Verizon has made preemptive access “available” across its network for public-safety customers and demonstrated that it works during this year’s Tournament of Roses Parade in California, but the preemption functionality is being “enabled” only on a limited basis in other parts of the country, according to a Verizon spokesperson.
News Northern Mariana Islands ‘opt-in’ decision gives FirstNet clean sweep of states and territories 19th January 2018 Northern Mariana Islands Gov. Ralph DeLeon Guerrero Torres announces that he has accepted the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) deployment plan offered by FirstNet and AT&T, meaning all 56 states and territories in the U.S. have made an “opt-in” decision.
News Newscan: Ovum: LTE population coverage hits 94% in North America 19th January 2018 Web Roundup Items from other news organizations Ovum: LTE population coverage hits 94% in North America Police: Faulty new radio system puts lives at risk
Commentary FirstNet’s availability should ‘raise all boats,’ drive public-safety innovation, competition 16th January 2018 If the goal is truly to provide the best communications networks and products for public safety, the focus should be on building the best solutions.
Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority? 2 24th March 2024
FirstNet Authority reauthorization needed as public-safety-driven network evolution proceeds 16th March 2024