News Updated FirstNet Operational Architecture would make winning bidder responsible for most functions 24th September 2015 FirstNet’s winning partner—likely a team of commercial partners—would have ownership of more than 63% of the system functions, with public-safety entities being responsible primarily for user-management issues regarding devices and applications, according to FirstNet’s updated Operational Architecture document released earlier this month.
News LA-RICS nears finish line on public-safety LTE system deployment, on target for Sept. 30 deadline 22nd September 2015 The much-anticipated public-safety LTE network being deployed by the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) is on track to be completed by next week’s federal deadline, and the new system should be operational by the end of the year, according to an LA-RICS spokesman.
News Where will FirstNet be next 9/11? 15th September 2015 As we observed the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedies last week, FirstNet officials were busy preparing for the release of a final RFP by the end of year. By the same time next year, we should know a lot more about the effort to build a nationwide broadband network for public safety—good or bad.
Commentary How to guarantee mission-critical multimedia for public-safety networks 10th September 2015 First responders will benefit from the situational awareness provided by real-time video and other multimedia applications, but it is important that public-safety agencies ensure that they design their networks properly to ensure that their networks have the appropriate capacity and reliability to be used in a mission-critical environment.
News FirstNet shares more business-case information during Industry Day event 28th August 2015 Partnering with FirstNet is a way for wireless providers to gain access to valuable spectrum assets in less time and with less upfront costs than traditional methods, such as bidding in FCC auctions, FirstNet officials told industry representatives yesterday during an Industry Day event.
Oku Solutions: David Witkowski outlines highlights of LTE test & measurement webinar (available on demand) 27th August 2015 David Witkowski, chief solutions architect for Oku Solutions, highlights some of the topics he covered during Wednesday’s online learning session “Testing and Measurement of LTE Technologies,” including the role that LMR radio shops will play in FirstNet and tools that can be used to ensure that public-safety agencies get the coverage and throughput from an LTE provider (be it FirstNet or a commercial carrier) that they paid for.
Video Hughes: Tony Bardo says satellite no longer ‘old, slow and expensive’ 25th August 2015 Tony Bardo, assistant vice president for government solutions at Hughes Network Systems, explains how the company’s Spaceway satellite solution can provide the backhaul needed to support public-safety LTE, such as when deployable systems are leveraged in areas outside of the fixed terrestrial network.
News FirstNet plans to release cybersecurity information this fall, Kennedy says 21st August 2015 FirstNet officials will provide information about the organization’s cybersecurity strategy this fall, beginning with its Industry Day next week, FirstNet President TJ Kennedy said this week during a panel session at the APCO 2015 show.
Video Oceus Networks: James Patterson discusses company’s role in New Jersey deployable LTE project 20th August 2015 James Patterson, vice president of public and federal solutions for Oceus Networks, details some of the design and engineering challenges associated with the deployable LTE sites—both systems on wheels (SOWs) and cells on wheels (COWs)—being leveraged in the New Jersey public-safety LTE system, which is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 30.
Video Harris: Paul May demonstrates impact of quality-of-service changes on public-safety applications 20th August 2015 Paul May, senior product manager at Harris RF Communications, demonstrates how quality-of-service technology and policies can be used to ensure that public-safety applications have the appropriate amount of bandwidth when network capacity is stressed.
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