by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 17, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
FirstNet investigates off-network communications
FirstNet is researching ways to provide off-network broadband communications to public-safety workers.
In some cases, responders must operate in remote areas with no access to broadband communications. They may be too far from network towers or base stations or fighting fires in buildings that have lost power and have intermittent cellular coverage.
The FirstNet Authority wants to better understand emerging technologies and potential capabilities for enabling not just device-to-device communications but also relay networks and a full range of data services, according to an Aug. 12 request for information. It wants responders to be able to share pictures, video, location or internet-of-things data with other responders, devices, drones and third-party applications without access to the macro network – the towers, base stations, cables and other physical facilities that provide communications…
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 17, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) officials recently joined AT&T personnel in unveiling tools designed to aid Rhode Island first responders.
AT&T has delivered a pair of Compact Rapid Deployables (CRDs) to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) – adding the state is the nation’s first to receive CRDs in conjunction with the decision to advance public safety broadband communications with FirstNet.
CRDs are trailered mobile units providing FirstNet cellular and Wi-Fi coverage via satellite connectivity to first responders…
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 17, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
AT&T announced that it had expanded 5G coverage for the FirstNet network to 10 more cities across the country.
First responders in Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas; El Paso, Texas; Houston, Texas; Knoxville, Tennessee; Phoenix; Raleigh, North Carolina; and San Antonio Texas now have access to 5G on the FirstNet network. Additionally, first responders in parts of 38 cities and more than 20 venues have access to AT&T millimeter wave spectrum.
Meanwhile, AT&T also announced that it launched nationwide interoperability between the FirstNet network and AT&T’s emergency services IP network (ESInet) solution. The carrier said that this connection allows FirstNet to serve as a wireless backup to connect public-safety answering points (PSAPs) and enable the delivery of IP-based 9-1-1 call traffic through the AT&T virtual private network…
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 16, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
DALLAS, Aug. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —
What’s the news? FirstNet® – the only nationwide network built with and for America’s first responders – is keeping public safety connected unlike any other network. Here’s 3 strategic ways:
- Expanding the FirstNet 5G footprint: As public safety’s communications partner, AT&T* has expanded 5G connectivity for first responders on FirstNet to further support public safety’s mission needs. Now, first responders in an additional 10 cities across the United States – Austin (Texas), Charlotte (N. Carolina), Cleveland (Ohio), Dallas (Texas), El Paso (Texas), Houston (Texas), Knoxville (Tenn.), Phoenix (Ariz.), Raleigh (N. Carolina) and San Antonio (Texas) –have access to 5G.
- Deploying MegaRange™ for Disaster Response: Since launching FirstNet MegaRange earlier this year – which significantly improves connectivity, especially at the edge of network coverage – public safety has started experiencing its exclusive benefits as they respond to everyday emergencies and disasters. From remote patient care to the frontlines of wildfire response, MegaRange is keeping first responders connected at the edge of coverage when lives are on the line.
- Launching nationwide interoperability with AT&T ESInet: To increase the flexibility and resiliency of AT&T NextGen 9-1-1 services, AT&T ESInet is now integrated with the FirstNet network. By serving as an automatic wireless backup to connect to public safety answering points (PSAP), FirstNet enables the delivery of IP-based 9-1-1 call traffic through the AT&T Virtual Private Network (VPN)…
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 16, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
AT&T on Monday said first responders that are signed on to FirstNet now have access to its low-band flavor of 5G in 10 cities.
In the 10 locations, FirstNet users can tap the carrier’s sub-6 GHz 5G spectrum, and they include: Austin; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cleveland; Dallas; El Paso, Texas; Houston; Knoxville; Phoenix; Raleigh, North Carolina; and San Antonio.
AT&T had trialed 5G for FirstNet users in Houston back in April. And AT&T already opened 5G using millimeter wave spectrum (branded 5G+) to first responders via FirstNet earlier this year in parts of 38 cities and 20 venues. AT&T expects to add two more cities to that tally and 20 more venues (for a total of 40) by the end of 2021…
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 14, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
FirstNet Authority officials released a request for information (RFI) seeking input about direct-mode and other technological solutions to address the issue of providing broadband communications support “off-network”—when first responders are in a location not supported by FirstNet’s terrestrial macro LTE system.
“We’re looking beyond the horizon—how does this look going forward?—and pulling that into the nationwide public-safety broadband network for that device-to-device connectivity,” FirstNet Authority Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Jeff Bratcher said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications…
