News FirstNet Authority approves investment to evolve FirstNet to full 5G capabilities 30th January 2024 FirstNet Authority board members today voted unanimously to fund the completion of the FirstNet system’s ability to deliver full 5G services to public-safety subscribers, although the exact amount of the investment and an implementation schedule were not shared immediately. “This investment will evolve FirstNet to full 5G capabilities and set us on a path to […]
News AT&T says FirstNet provides more than 5.5 million connections to about 27,500 agencies 26th January 2024 FirstNet provides more than 5.5 million connections to approximately 27,500 public-safety agencies subscribing to the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) as of the end of 2023, according to figures released yesterday by AT&T, the FirstNet Authority contractor tasked with building and maintaining the system. AT&T CFO Pascal Desroches noted the FirstNet adoptions as he highlighted […]
Audio NATE: Todd Schlekeway previews NATE Unite 2024 event 24th January 2024 NATE President and CEO Todd Schlekeway outlines some key aspects of NATE Unite 2024–the communications-infrastructure contractor association’s annual event–which will be conducted Feb. 19-22 in Memphis, Tenn. In addition to tower-related training and regulatory content, the NATE Unite 2024 lineup include conference sessions that address new areas of business for NATE members beyond the […]
News AST SpaceMobile gets big investments from AT&T, Vodafone and Google 24th January 2024 AST SpaceMobile has announced key strategic investments from AT&T, Vodafone and Google that helped the satellite-direct-to-phone broadband provider generate more than $300 million in capital needed to finance significant deployment of its planned low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. “Being able to announce investment by AT&T, Google and Vodafone is humbling and a true testament to the […]
Partner content T-Mobile warns of friction between net neutrality and network slicing 19th January 2024 The Biden administration is working to reinstate net neutrality rules, but T-Mobile is signaling that new technologies like network slicing don’t neatly fit into the FCC’s plans. “Network slicing is a prime example of a cutting-edge technology that could be negatively affected by regulatory uncertainty,” T-Mobile wrote in a new filing to the FCC. T-Mobile […]
News Cal OES expresses opposition to PSSA proposal of FirstNet Authority 4.9 GHz spectrum license 19th January 2024 An official with the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) this week submitted a letter to the FCC expressing opposition to a Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) proposal asking the federal agency to award the FirstNet Authority with a nationwide license in the 4.9 GHz band. “Cal OES appreciates the PSSA’s efforts to preserve […]
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 […]
Partner content What to expect from U.S. wireless carriers’ Q4 results 16th January 2024 The fourth quarter earnings season in the US is about to get underway, with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile all scheduled to report their latest financial results starting January 23. In general, analysts expect the good times will continue. Indeed, all the big US wireless network operators have enjoyed positive attention from Wall Street in recent […]
Partner content NASA one step closer to deploying humanoid robots in space 16th January 2024 NASA is one step closer to sending humanoid robots to space, with the agency’s humanoid design, Valkyrie, undergoing some of its final testing phases at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. According to the agency, Valkyrie is designed for “damaged or degraded environments” such as natural disaster sites, though NASA developed the robot with […]
Partner content The UK Post Office scandal holds lessons for telecom 14th January 2024 “Computer says no.” The catchphrase, immortalized in a series of Little Britain comedy sketches from the noughties, brilliantly mocks society’s overreliance on and trust in technology. In the sketches, a glum-faced PC operator routinely dismisses people’s queries and complaints, or simply tells bewildered individuals they are wrong, after some furious bashing at a keyboard. That catchphrase is a neat, […]
Latest 3GPP standards-development work includes new classes of HPUE, progress on mission-critical services 22nd April 2024
Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority? 2 24th March 2024
