News Lynk claims successful test of satellite-to-cell-phone communications, cites potential public-safety value 19th March 2020 Virginia-based Lynk today announced successful tests of communications between its low-Earth-orbit (LEO) nanosatellites—acting as a “cell tower in space”—and unmodified, standard cell phones and smartphones, showcasing a potential new option for providing resilient backup links and coverage to remote areas. “The advent of everywhere, everyone communications direct to your phone is upon us.” Lynk CEO […]
Audio Drakontas: CEO James Sim discusses DragonForce app development, use during COVID-19 crisis 18th March 2020 Drakontas CEO James Sim explains how his company’s DragonForce command-and-control collaboration platform—traditionally used as a communications tool to support tactical operations for public safety and the military—is being deployed by multiple emergency-management entities associated with the response efforts being implemented in the COVID-19 crisis.
News AT&T provides some details about March 5 FirstNet data-service outage 18th March 2020 A “software issue” in a Georgia data center caused the March 5 service outage that impacted some FirstNet subscribers in the southeast U.S. region, according to a statement from AT&T, the contractor charged with building and maintaining the FirstNet nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN). “Our root-cause analysis confirmed a software issue prevented some data traffic […]
News 2019 LMR licensing activity hits all-time low for public safety, with slight gain for enterprises 17th March 2020 Public-safety land-mobile-radio (LMR) licensing activity hit a new all-time low level for the third consecutive year in 2019, while LMR licensing in the business-industrial sector saw a slight increase while hovering near all-time low levels, according to data in the FCC’s online Universal Licensing System (ULS) database. A total of 3,042 public-safety LMR license applications […]
News Florida agencies seek clarity on LMR system amid tightening timelines 12th March 2020 Florida state officials indicate that they are talking with L3Harris about extending the statewide LMR contract, while at least one state agency has expressed concerns that the aging network deal is due to expire in 17 months, with no publicly stated long-term replacement plan and state legislators scheduled to end their annual session tomorrow. Almost […]
News 5G will see C-V2X explosion … maybe 12th March 2020 An automotive research body is predicting an explosion in C-V2X capability with the roll-out of 5G. However, the statement announcing a study by ABI Research based on industry opinions, does make the sweeping assumption that 5G, which requires many times more aerials than the existing 4G networks, will have a far superior coverage. That’s somewhat […]
News Ed Parkinson named as FirstNet Authority CEO 12th March 2020 Ed Parkinson today was named by the FirstNet Authority Board as executive director—operationally, the chief executive officer (CEO)—for the FirstNet Authority, becoming the organization’s third full-time staff leader and its first in more than 17 months. FirstNet Authority Board Chair Ed Horowitz said that Parkinson was selected at the conclusion of a “comprehensive and thorough […]
Audio RapidSOS: Tom Guthrie outlines ability to share gunfire-detection data with 911 centers 12th March 2020 Tom Guthrie, senior vice president and general manager for the RapidSOS public-safety unit, highlights the information available to 911 personnel through his company’s newly announced partnership with SafeZone, a provider of indoor gunfire-detection technology, as well the eventual potential to share smart-building information with public safety automatically in the future.
News FirstNet buildout 80% complete, serves 1.2 million subscribers, AT&T exec says 12th March 2020 AT&T’s contracted FirstNet deployment of LTE equipment operating on 700 MHz Band 14 spectrum is 80% complete—a year ahead of schedule—and the overall public-safety broadband system serves 1.2 million subscribers and more than 10,000 public-safety entities, an AT&T executive said this week. AT&T Chief Financial Officer (CFO) John Stephens made the statements during the Deutsche […]
News Kymeta unveils new antenna, plans to offer hybrid satellite-cell connectivity 11th March 2020 Kymeta this week announced the commercial availability of its new u8 mobile antenna platform—a software-defined solution supporting satellite connections throughout the Ku-band and cellular LTE service—that lets the company offer an always-on hybrid connectivity bundle, starting at a price of $999 per month. Bill Marks, Kymeta’s chief strategy officer, said the company hopes to make […]
Latest 3GPP standards-development work includes new classes of HPUE, progress on mission-critical services 1 22nd April 2024
Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority? 3 24th March 2024
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
