News FCC approves rules for service providers delivering NG911 emergency communications 26th July 2024 FCC commissioners last week voted unanimously to approve an order designed to ease the transition to IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology by providing originating service providers with nationwide rules about their responsibilities and deadlines to deliver emergency calls to NG911 systems. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel described the order as the latest step in the FCC’s […]
Partner content FCC study pins all blame on AT&T for massive mobile outage 24th July 2024 The errors and foibles that led to AT&T’s massive mobile network outage in February that impaired millions of devices and blocked millions of voice calls were “all attributed” to the carrier, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau concluded in its damning assessment of the outage. The FCC’s 29-page report (PDF) found that the size and scope of […]
News FCC report outlines cause of AT&T’s February outage, impact on FirstNet 23rd July 2024 AT&T’s nationwide outage on Feb. 22 was caused by a misconfigured “network element” placed on the AT&T Mobility network without being properly reviewed, resulting in hours-long service disruption for both FirstNet users and AT&T commercial customers, according to FCC report about the outage. “When you sign up for wireless service, you expect it will be […]
Partner content AT&T now says call information for most 2022 FirstNet users downloaded in data breach 22nd July 2024 After stating last week that most FirstNet users’ call information was not exposed during an illegal download announced this week, AT&T last week said the FirstNet call-information exposure is “similar” to the carrier’s broader customer base—a proportion previously described as “nearly all” AT&T cellular customers. “Our initial assessment of the percentage of FirstNet numbers in […]
Partner content Could drones call each other using 5G? 18th July 2024 Qualcomm this week called on federal regulators to use a 5G technology to allow drones to communicate with each other. Qualcomm calls the technology aircraft-to-everything (A2X) and argues it could make drone flights safer and more efficient. Qualcomm’s proposal comes at an important time for the drone industry. New federal rules could pave the way […]
Partner content Apple could eclipse wireless operators’ satellite plans 16th July 2024 Apple later this year will shift its satellite messaging strategy from emergency services to just regular services. The iPhone supplier will do so with the release of its iOS 18 software platform, scheduled to be available this fall. That update will immediately give casual, non-emergency satellite messaging services to a good chunk of the estimated 375 million […]
Partner content Massive Snowflake-linked attack exposes data on nearly 110M AT&T customers 16th July 2024 A cyberattack targeting AT&T’s Snowflake environment compromised data on nearly all of the telecom provider’s wireless customers, the company said in a Friday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nearly 110 million customers are impacted, according to AT&T’s annual report for the period of compromised data. Data stolen during the intrusion includes records of AT&T customers’ calls and text messages spanning […]
News AT&T data breach includes call information from some FirstNet users 14th July 2024 Call-information data from some FirstNet subscribers was part of the AT&T customer data that the carrier giant Friday announced was “illegally downloaded” in 2022 and early 2023, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. Official statements from AT&T and the FirstNet Authority did not directly address whether FirstNet subscribers’ call-information data was downloaded, but […]
Partner content FCC’s Rosenworcel hopes 4.9 GHz proceeding will be finished within ‘several months’ 11th July 2024 FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel this week told members of the House subcommittee on communications and technology that she would like FCC commissioners to establish new rules for the 4.9 GHz spectrum band “within the next several months” but noted the flurry of recent filings in the proceeding. Rosenworcel (pictured above, from a previous hearing) provided […]
News Motorola Solutions launches AI-powered virtual-assistant software to aid 911 telecommunicators 8th July 2024 Motorola Solutions recently announced the launch of VESTA NXT, which includes “virtual response assistant” technology that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) that can reduce the workload of a 911 call handler by an estimated 20% to 35%, according to a company press release about the offering. Dan Twohig, Motorola Solutions’ vice president of strategic partnerships, said […]
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
