FirstNet said plans for a nationwide mobile broadband network serving public safety remain on track for $6.5B in vendor awards by year-end
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The First Responder Network Authority said it remains on track in announcing partners by the end of the year to build out its planned public safety mobile broadband network, despite a recent move to extend the deadline for request for proposal submissions.
Speaking at this week’s Competitive Carriers Association Mobile Carriers Show in Nashville, Tennessee, FirstNet President TJ Kennedy speaking during a keynote address said he did not expect to grant any further extensions than the one announced earlier this month allowing for submissions up to May 31. The latest move followed previous extensions from the original April 29 and later May 13 deadline.
“This is an extremely aggressive schedule,” Kennedy said. “Aggressive, but realistic. … Public safety has an urgency to get these tools into their hands as quickly as possible.”
FirstNet released its RFP on Jan. 13, asking for bids on helping the organization tap its 20 megahertz of 700 MHz Band Class 14 spectrum and $6.5 billion in funding to construct a nationwide public safety network. FirstNet noted capability statements, in which vendors outlined their technical ability to achieve FirstNet’s network objectives, had played a part in the latest deadline extension.
Kennedy said FirstNet expects to have multiple bidders vying to build out the network, with plans to launch in 2017.
Kennedy also highlighted FirstNet’s emphasis on network interoperability, noting instead of that term he preferred to say the network would be “operable from day one.”
“The key to interoperability is updating policies regulations and upgrades to the network at the same time across the nationwide network,” Kennedy said. i
To meet this deadline, momentum remains paramount to FirstNet’s plans, with Kennedy stating if anything the current schedule does not prevent the organization from moving even faster.
“We expect to move quicker over the next year or two than people might want is to or expect us to,” Kennedy said.
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