News Mexico threatens suit against Rivada Networks, which cites deposition in alleging Red Compartida improprieties 23rd December 2016 Mexican government officials threaten to sue Rivada Networks for allegations made after the company secured a consultant’s deposition that outlined several questionable actions in the development of the Red Compartida procurement, as well as a statement that the winning Altan consortium bid is “essentially a photocopy” of a supposedly confidential business plan created for the Mexican government.
Commentary FirstNet cybersecurity demands just one area that potential opt-out states should weigh carefully 20th December 2016 Many advocates of the opt-out alternative to FirstNet cite the option as a way for a state to exert greater control over the public-safety broadband network within its borders. There is no doubt that an opt-out decision would create much more work for a state, but the level of operational control may not be the kind that proponents envisioned.
News Arizona delays RFP submission deadline to March 30 17th December 2016 Arizona changes to March 30 the deadline for vendors to submit bids to its request for proposals to build and operate a public-safety LTE radio access network (RAN) that would exist only if Arizona’s governor decides to opt out of the nationwide FirstNet buildout next year.
News Rivada claims Altan won Mexico’s Red Compartida award ‘through improper and perhaps criminal means’ 15th December 2016 A South Carolina federal court this week cleared the path for Rivada Networks to depose Richard Keith, a South Carolina consultant whose testimony is expected to support Rivada’s allegations that the winning Altan consortium bid for the Mexico government’s Red Compartida network was prepared in violation of Mexican law.
News FirstNet preparing network policies for nationwide contractor, opt-out states 14th December 2016 FirstNet’s technical staff has established a draft set of network policies that will be followed throughout the United States, whether the radio access network (RAN) is deployed by FirstNet’s nationwide contractor or by opt-out states, FirstNet officials said today.
News PSCR announces $30 million program for research initiatives in six areas, including mission-critical voice 8th December 2016 Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) announces a federal funding opportunity (FFO) that will provide a maximum of $30 million to fund research projects designed to accelerate innovation in six key technology areas, including mission-critical voice, public-safety analytics and resilient systems.
Commentary Why public safety should be excited by FirstNet’s prospects, despite potential delays 6th December 2016 Rivada Mercury is suing to protest its removal from consideration for the FirstNet procurement, noting the strengths of its proposal. Now that the evaluation team has deemed that Rivada Mercury’s proposal is not in the “competitive range,” it is intriguing to consider how good AT&T’s offer may be.
News AT&T states belief that its FirstNet bid is the only one within the ‘competitive range’ 5th December 2016 AT&T confirmed that its FirstNet bid is within the “competitive range”—the designation for the “most highly rated” proposals in a federal procurement—and that company officials believe it is lone proposal in this category, according to an AT&T regulatory filing submitted on Friday.
News AT&T is apparent selection to build FirstNet, as Rivada Mercury files protest over elimination from bid 2nd December 2016 Rivada Mercury is protesting its elimination from consideration to become FirstNet’s contractor to build and operate the much-anticipated nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN)—an action that points to AT&T as the selected bidder, although court documents indicate that the award likely will be delayed until at least March.
Commentary Congress needs to step up and champion next-generation 911 (NG911) 29th November 2016 Next-generation 911 (NG911) needs to be implemented soon, particularly as the nationwide broadband network for first responders is deployed. To make that happen, Congress likely will have take action to provide funding, as lawmakers did with the establishment of FirstNet five years ago.
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
