Commentary FirstNet Authority reauthorization needed as public-safety-driven network evolution proceeds 16th March 2024 The recent announcement from AT&T and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) that an additional $8 billion is being invested into the system—for both 5G and additional coverage—is a quantum leap forward for public-safety communications in the United States. This investment and subsequent deployment of mission-critical technologies and additional cell sites will continue to […]
LMR remains most reliable technology for public-safety communications 13th March 2024 From the early beginnings of the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) concept, the network was considered supplemental to existing land-mobile-radio (LMR) communications systems. Certainly, it could be an important supplement to existing mission-critical systems by providing a variety of additional information to first responders, e.g. blueprints of a building for firefighters. The network was also […]
Commentary Things to know about IWCE 2024: Omdia to unveil Emerging Critical Tech & Innovation survey results 20th February 2024 IWCE’S official research partner, Omdia, will be unveiling the results of the Emerging Critical Tech & Innovation Survey across two Lunch & Learn sessions at IWCE. Omdia’s Physical Security, Public Safety & Critical Communication team will be actively participating throughout the IWCE 2024 schedule, with Omdia analysts participating in or moderating 10 sessions through the […]
Commentary 3GPP begins Release 19 work for public safety as Release 18 progress continues 17th January 2024 The 3GPP Plenary meetings took place Dec. 11-15, 2023, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Participants made continued progress on Release 18 (R18) features of interest to public safety. The Plenary meetings also included planning for Release 19 (R19) features, and the start of preliminary discussions for Release 20 (R20). The FirstNet Authority served as an active participant […]
Commentary Three keys to success for FirstNet 3.0 21st December 2023 We set a high bar for excellence at the First Responder Network Authority. That’s because our work supports public safety. Lives depend on it. Our mission is to deliver the best, most reliable communications for public safety. We stood up a nationwide broadband network with our network partner—AT&T—in record time. We have created a network […]
Commentary Things to know about IWCE 2024: Conference highlights 12th December 2023 We have revamped the conference track structure this year, organizing tracks by specific industries, as well as by technological topics. Whether you work for a utility, are responsible for the critical communications for a transportation network, or are among those making first-response effort a reality, you will find sessions organized in a track established for […]
Commentary Land mobile radio (LMR) systems are just as vulnerable to cyberattacks as any other networks used in the public-safety sector. Here’s what to do about it. 7th November 2023 There was a time, not very long ago, when public-safety agencies and other public-sector organizations didn’t seem to fully appreciate the significant threat that cyberattacks pose to their operations and ability to fulfill their missions. But that began to change over the last couple of years, thanks to a spate of high-profile incidents. One occurred […]
Commentary September 3GPP Plenary meetings feature Release 18 progress, Release 19 beginnings 13th October 2023 The 3GPP Plenary meetings took place September 11-15, 2023, in Bangalore, India. The Technical Specification Group (TSG) reports below highlight continued progress on Release 18 (R18) features of interest for public safety, including steady development on the stage 3 protocol work, which is the last stage in 3GPP standards development. The Plenary meetings included planning […]
Commentary Better technology can help solve the public-safety staffing crisis 26th June 2023 Every time I read about a public safety agency being short staffed, with a burnt-out workforce, draining their overtime budget, I feel their pain. From New York to New Mexico and in communities all across the nation, police and fire departments routinely are forced to mandate longer shifts, which takes an emotional toll and raises […]
Commentary NG911 needed to secure our communities and nation 24th February 2023 As the new Congress begins its work in earnest, we look forward to continued progress in funding the transition to IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology. Our nation’s 911 systems are critical to ensuring the safety and security of our communities, and nationwide implementation of NG911 will ensure these systems can leverage the most advanced communications […]
FirstNet Authority reauthorization needed as public-safety-driven network evolution proceeds 16th March 2024