News FirstNet RFP calls for 25-year deal, contractor to pay FirstNet at least $5.625 billion 14th January 2016 FirstNet’s selected contractor will gain access to 20 MHz of spectrum and receive as much as $6.5 billion to support the buildout and operation of the proposed public-safety broadband network, but the contractor must pay FirstNet a minimum of $5.625 billion over the life of the 25-year deal, according to the request for proposal (RFP) released today.(total minimum payment amount corrected in story)
News FirstNet releases RFP; responses due on April 29 13th January 2016 FirstNet releases its final request for proposals (RFP), asking potential long-term partners to submit their bids by April 29 that detail their plans for deploying and operating a much-anticipated nationwide public-safety broadband network.
News Some things we don’t know yet that could impact FirstNet’s ultimate success (updated) 12th January 2016 Nothing happens in a vacuum. As we wait for FirstNet to release its RFP, here are some questions that FirstNet is not positioned to address right now, but finding answers to them could be critical to the success of the nationwide public-safety broadband initiative. (Updated with correction about spectrum-cap impact)
News FirstNet RFP will seek partnership deal that will last 20-25 years, CEO Poth says 8th January 2016 FirstNet will seek a long-term deal that is designed to last at least two decades in its final request for proposal (RFP) for a private partner to deploy a nationwide public-safety broadband network, according to FirstNet CEO Mike Poth.
Commentary Some key questions that potential bidders want answered in FirstNet’s RFP 7th January 2016 FirstNet has not released its request for proposal (RFP) yet, but here are some of the items that potential bidders hope will be addressed in the procurement document.
News AT&T expresses interest in FirstNet opportunity, plans to ‘pursue it aggressively’ 7th January 2016 Three of the four nationwide wireless carriers express mixed interest about the upcoming opportunity to partner with FirstNet to construct a nationwide public-safety network, with AT&T being enthusiastic about the prospect, T-Mobile showing more interest in the upcoming 600 MHz incentive auction and Verizon declining to comment on the matter.
News FirstNet’s Johnson envisions new future role for PSAPs as ‘first part of the investigation’ 5th January 2016 Public-safety answering points (PSAPs) should have an expanded role as first-responder communications migrate to FirstNet and next-generation 911 (NG911), but officials and policymakers need to begin planning soon to address this “coming challenge,” according to FirstNet Vice Chairman Jeff Johnson.
Commentary Commercial priority-service offerings promise to be eye-opening to carriers, public safety, critical infrastructure 29th December 2015 Wireless giants AT&T and Verizon both have announced plans to offer prioritization services to enterprises, public-safety and critical-infrastructure entities. Will these packages make FirstNet irrelevant?
Commentary New Hampshire’s RFP for a public-safety LTE system: An act of rebellion or self defense? 22nd December 2015 Is New Hampshire spinning its wheels by issuing an RFP for a statewide public-safety LTE network on spectrum it can’t use today? Or, is there a method to the madness that may cause other states and territories to pursue similar strategies before they have to make an opt-out decision regarding FirstNet?
Article Top 5 stories: Week of Dec. 12-18 21st December 2015 Here’s a look at the most popular stories on IWCE ’s Urgent Communications from last week.
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
