RESTON, Va., Aug. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The State of
Arizona is opting into FirstNet. With this decision, FirstNet and
AT&T* will deliver a specialized wireless broadband network to
Arizona's public safety community.
This makes Arizona the
13th state or territory in the country to bring first
responders advanced technologies that will help them save lives and
protect communities.
"The State of Arizona is ready
to work shoulder-to-shoulder with AT&T and FirstNet to finally
deploy a true interoperable nationwide communications system for
public safety. We have much work ahead of us, but with AT&T's
open communication and commitment to excellence, the future for all
first responders will be safer as will the lives of our citizens,"
said Col. Frank Milstead, Director
of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
AT&T, in a public-private partnership with FirstNet, will
build, operate and maintain a highly secure wireless broadband
communications network for Arizona's public safety community at no cost
to the state. The FirstNet network will drive innovation and create
an entire system of modernized devices, apps and tools for first
responders.
Arizona led a comprehensive
solicitation of potential vendors to build and maintain its
FirstNet network. Ultimately, Arizona selected the FirstNet and AT&T
public-private partnership.
The FirstNet network will transform the way Arizona's fire, police, EMS and other public
safety personnel communicate and share information. Specifically,
FirstNet and AT&T will:
- Connect first responder subscribers to the critical information
they need in a highly secure manner when handling day-to-day
operations, responding to emergencies and supporting large events,
like football games at the stadium in Glendale that draw more than 70,000 fans.
- Create an efficient communications experience for public safety
personnel in agencies and jurisdictions across the state during
natural disasters including severe weather, flash floods and
extreme temperatures that contribute to seasonal wildfires, like
the Goodwin Fire that engulfed more than 20,000 acres of
chaparral.
- Enhance network coverage in rural areas. This will benefit
first responders and residents throughout Arizona's topographically diverse landscape,
as well as those who service and visit the state's popular State
and National Parks.
- Drive infrastructure investments and create jobs across the
state.
- Usher in a new wave of innovation that first responders can
depend on. This will create an ever-evolving set of life-saving
tools for public safety, including public safety apps, specialized
devices and Internet of Things technologies. It also carries the
potential for future integration with NextGen 9-1-1 networks and
Smart Cities' infrastructure.
The FirstNet solution that will be built in Arizona was designed with direct input from
the state's public safety community. FirstNet has been meeting with
Arizona's elected officials and
public safety community for several years to address their unique
communications needs. This includes:
- Strengthening coverage along the state's southern border and
around the Grand Canyon, as well
as on tribal lands, in rural regions and in and around state
prisons.
- Bringing first responders access to innovative solutions that
will help solve the communications challenges they face today.
- Getting public safety quick access to the features and
capabilities they need.
"This decision comes after the state considered
several options to get the best solution for
its public safety community," says FirstNet CEO Mike Poth, who began his law enforcement career
with the Tempe Police
Department. "FirstNet and AT&T are pleased to have been
selected for having the best network solution for the
state, and we are honored to serve Arizona's first
responders."
The decision enables FirstNet and AT&T to begin creating an
entirely new wireless ecosystem for public safety communications.
Arizona's first responder
subscribers will have immediate access to quality of service and
priority to voice and data across the existing nationwide AT&T
LTE network.
Preemption for primary users over the AT&T LTE network is
expected by year-end. This means fire, police, EMS and other public
safety workers will have dedicated access to the network when and
where they need it – 24/7/365, like their mission.
"After thoughtful analysis that included issuing an RFP,
Arizona concluded that opting in
provided the best solution for their first responders. We couldn't
be more pleased about that," said Chris Sambar, senior vice
president, AT&T – FirstNet. "We take our public safety mission
very seriously, and we're honored to deliver first responders
access to the cutting-edge tools and technologies that will help
them better serve the people of Arizona."
For more information on FirstNet, please visit
FirstNet.gov/mediakit and att.com/FirstResponderNews. For more
about the value FirstNet will bring to public safety, please visit
FirstNet.com.
About FirstNet
The First Responder Network Authority
(FirstNet) is an independent authority within the U.S. Department
of Commerce, overseen by a 15 member Board. Chartered in 2012, its
mission is to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of the
nationwide, broadband network that equips first responders to save
lives and protect U.S. communities. Learn more at
FirstNet.gov/mediakit and follow FirstNet (@FirstNetGov) on
Facebook and Twitter for updates.
*About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions
around the globe connect with leading entertainment, business,
mobile and high speed internet services. We offer the nation's best
data network** and the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless
provider. We're one of the world's largest providers of pay TV. We
have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries.
Nearly 3.5 million companies, from small to large businesses around
the globe, turn to AT&T for our highly secure smart
solutions.
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
and on YouTube at youtube.com/att.
© 2017 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.
**Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score.
Score includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen
Mobile Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile
Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q4 2016 + Q1 2017
across 121 markets.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.