DALLAS and BALTIMORE, Aug. 12,
2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Public safety personnel across the
country continue to turn to FirstNet to advance their routine and
emergency responses. Nearly 9,000 public safety agencies and
organizations have subscribed to FirstNet, accounting for over
750,000 connections in service. And the numbers are growing
daily.
Why? Because the FirstNet communications platform – built with
AT&T* and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet
Authority) – offers first responders and those critical to their
response a purpose-built experience they can't get anywhere
else.
"FirstNet is designed to be different because that's what public
safety specifically asked for. This is the only platform that has
been built from the ground up just for this community, and we
believe FirstNet is the most important network in the country
because it serves public safety across the country," said Chris
Sambar, senior vice president, FirstNet Program at AT&T.
"As we grow and evolve FirstNet, we're proud to connect more
members of the public safety community and further empower the men
and women we rely on to keep us safe with the advanced
communications capabilities needed to help strengthen their mission
delivery."
For the second consecutive quarter, FirstNet brings its
subscribers the fastest overall network experience. According to
the results of tests taken with Speedtest as analyzed by AT&T,
FirstNet once again performed faster than any commercial
network.1
These results come as the number of markets with the FirstNet
Band 14 spectrum nears 650.2 We're moving quickly with
about 65% of our nationwide coverage targets completed well ahead
of schedule. The more we roll out Band 14 across the country, the
more we're able to provide first responders with truly dedicated
coverage and capacity when they need it. This helps them reliably
connect to critical information, communicate and coordinate.
And in the coming months, FirstNet subscribers will be getting
another boost in their connectivity. AT&T and Assured Wireless
Corporation are working together to develop safe and effective
solutions that bring first responders the true benefits of
high-power user equipment (HPUE). Following 3GPP standards, HPUE
solutions can transmit at stronger signals. This signal increase
can only be done using the FirstNet Band 14 spectrum.
That's huge for public safety. For rural and remote responders,
HPUE could significantly increase their coverage area. For urban
and suburban responders, this will help solve the common challenge
of indoor coverage. The stronger signal will better assist those
connecting from hard-to-reach places like basements, elevators,
stairwells and parking garages, helping first responders
communicate inside and out.
"Our collaboration with AT&T is a perfect example of
technology's power to do great things for public safety," said
Tom Bilotta, CEO of Assured Wireless
Corporation. "The standards-based HPUE solutions that we plan
to bring forward will build on the unique capabilities of FirstNet
to further strengthen first responders' ability to communicate no
matter where their mission takes them."
Increased Reliability, Redundancy and Resiliency Through
Disasters
Since establishing the FirstNet Response
Operations Program a year ago, public safety has turned to FirstNet
to help support them during both planned and emergency events. This
year alone, we have helped first responders stay connected during
nearly 75 emergency events. From wildfires and floods, to a
tropical storm turned hurricane and tornadoes, to search and rescue
missions in remote locations and more, FirstNet has been there.
"The support we received from FirstNet during the record
rainfall and flooding earlier this year was second to none,"
said Keenan Campbell, Situation
Unit Leader – Illinois Incident Management Team. "Having a
FirstNet SatCOLT rapidly deployed and onsite to keep our command
post connected to our broader team was an invaluable asset to our
mission, and it gives me peace of mind knowing that I have a
network that will be there when and where I need it."
Plus, we've supported agencies at more than 100 planned events
this year, including coast-to-coast 4th of July celebrations. First
responders have also relied on FirstNet during music festivals,
sporting events and speaker rallies for public officials.
When emergencies strike, it's also critical that 911 call
centers have the tools they need to maintain operations. To help
911 communicators stay connected during potential service-impacting
situations, 911 call centers can now use FirstNet as a wireless
backup solution to AT&T ESInet™ – a smarter, modernized
911 call-routing service.
This backup capability is enabled by AT&T Private Mobile
Connection, which connects AT&T ESInet to FirstNet for added
redundancy. If AT&T ESInet detects a failure in the primary
connection to the PSAP, emergency calls will be automatically
routed over FirstNet. Keeping PSAPs connected during critical times
helps improve emergency response and enables 911 communicators to
provide seamless service to the community until the primary
connection is restored.
Enhanced Situational Awareness and Security
The
FirstNet communications platform goes beyond delivering reliable
and redundant connectivity to public safety. It builds on that
connectivity with innovative apps that can cost-effectively
transform capabilities, drive efficiencies, enhance situational
awareness and increase security. New apps launched in and coming to
the FirstNet App Catalog – created specifically for public safety –
include:
- FirstNet Assist – Now FirstNet Certified™ and
included in the FirstNet App Catalog, this solution allows
public safety support personnel in the field to see active events
and incidents within a 50-mile radius and request device uplift.
This app also provides all users with direct access to dedicated
FirstNet Care specialists specially trained to help first
responders and performs device diagnostics.
- Response for FirstNet – This low-cost,
simple-to-use situational awareness platform now provides new
features to FirstNet subscribers, like live location, media sharing
and team mobilization, to support day-to-day and emergency
operations.
- FirstNet Cybersecurity Awareness – When it comes to
cybersecurity, it's no secret that people are considered the first
line of defense. This holds true for public safety. So, this app,
coming soon to the FirstNet App Catalog, will provide public safety
agencies with easy-to-use educational materials that help keep
cybersecurity top of mind. The app will also include training
videos that simply break down cybersecurity concerns like social
engineering, phishing and spoofing, so first responders have the
tools they need to stay cyber-aware and cyber-safe.
"As we planned for FirstNet, we worked hand-in-hand with public
safety across the nation to help us design a network to meet their
critical communications needs," said Jeff Bratcher, Chief Technology and Operations
Officer, FirstNet Authority. "We are pleased with the progress
AT&T continues to make to fulfill the promise of FirstNet –
delivering the tools public safety asked for to help with their
lifesaving mission. This is public safety's network, and we will
continue to engage with them to advance their network, FirstNet,
for years to come."
FirstNet is public safety's dedicated, nationwide communications
platform. It's bringing public safety communications into the 21st
century with new, innovative capabilities to strengthen first
responders' incident response. And it's helping them connect to the
critical information they need – every day and in every
emergency.
Attending the APCO 2019 Conference & Expo in Baltimore? Stop by booth #623 to learn more
about FirstNet or check out FirstNet Assist in the New Product
Zone. More on FirstNet can also be found here.
1Based on AT&T analysis of Ookla® Speedtest
Intelligence® data average download speeds for Q2 2019. Ookla
trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.
2Markets defined by FCC CMAs.
*About AT&T Communications
We help family,
friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From
the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we
innovate to improve lives. We have the nation's fastest wireless
network.** And according to America's biggest test, we have the
nation's best wireless network.*** We're building FirstNet just for
first responders and creating next-generation mobile 5G. With
DIRECTV, DIRECTV NOW and WatchTV, we deliver entertainment people
love to talk about. Our smart, highly secure solutions serve nearly
3 million global businesses – nearly all of the Fortune 1000. And
worldwide, our spirit of service drives employees to give back to
their communities.
AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). Learn
more at att.com/CommunicationsNews.
AT&T products and services are provided or offered by
subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T
brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about
AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com.
Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att
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© 2019 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service
marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated
companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of
their respective owners.
**Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data
average download speeds for Q2 2019.
***GWS OneScore, September 2018.
FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the
First Responder Network Authority.
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SOURCE AT&T Communications