Solving complexity, performance and economics challenges helps cover more buildings more quickly
In an emergency situation, first responders need to have access to robust, reliable in-building communications systems--you won’t find any disagreement among public safety leaders and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) as well as...
The Federal Communications Commission has voted along party lines to expand the use of the 4.9 GHz band, over objections from public safety users.
The 4.9 GHz spectrum, which consists of 50 megahertz (4.940-4.990 GHz), was designated for exclusive use by public safety for fixed...
Every time I see the frontline users chugging along those thick, heavy, oversized rugged phones, I feel there should be a way to make them sleek, and stylish like consumer phones, without compromising on the functionality. And I am delighted to say that Samsung...
Motorola Solutions has acquired law enforcement application company Callyo for an undisclosed sum, adding cloud-based apps to its mobile public safety tech portfolio.
Callyo has two application suites: 10-21, focused on communications between first responders and citizens, and Callyo, which offers tools for digital evidence...
Public safety users “have had a hunger for data for a very long time, all the way back to our 1G and 2G days,” said Nick Nilan, director of product development for the public sector at Verizon. That use has evolved over time, and...
A new advocacy group is calling for additional spectrum to be assigned to the FirstNet Authority for exclusive use public safety, saying that the spectrum could eventually help support public safety use of 5G.
In a discussion as part of this week's IWCE Virtual event,...
FirstNet-AT&T has helped connect ambulances providing mutual aid for areas hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, provided connectivity for coronavirus testing facilities and is being creatively integrated into telehealth solutions, according to Ed Parkinson, CEO of the FirstNet Authority.
Parkinson, speaking at this week's IWCE Virtual...
The future of public safety communications is inextricably linked to LTE and cellular technologies, according to Jeff Johnson, CEO of the Western Fire Chiefs Association -- and those who keep asking, "When will Land Mobile Radio die?" are focused on the wrong question.
"People are...
The public safety community is relying more frequently on advanced technology that requires a network connection. Unmanned aerial and terrestrial vehicles, IoT devices, and smart cameras are just a few of the potentially life-saving use cases, according to Victor Mejia, product manager at Nextivity....
As public safety users rely more and more often on mobile technology, what are the common issues they encounter with smartphones and tablets that are almost always designed for consumer use?
At the recent virtual incarnation of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Public...
Emergency responders are increasingly incorporating the use of mobile broadband into their daily operations, from apps that allow them to complete paperwork without returning to the station, to wearable cameras and incorporating security video surveillance.
What are some of the innovative uses for mobile broadband...
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) helped lay the foundation for autonomous ground vehicles with a 300-mile challenge race. DARPA also pushed AI-powered, software-defined radios to their limits in the three-year Spectrum Collaboration Challenge that culminated at last year's Mobile World Congress Los...
For resilient networks and "tech to protect", PSCR looks to collaboration
Amid a rapidly evolving technology landscape, how do public safety agencies find out about the latest and greatest options, and best practices on how to implement them? How do tech companies which want to...
The U.S. education market is estimated to have a capital spend of over $100 billion, according to EdWeek. As with any market with a CAPEX that size, the education sector is very competitive and crowded with vendors, large and small, offering their own fragmented...
The Federal Communications Commission is usually enthusiastic about opening up additional spectrum for commercial use. Not in the case of the T-Band—which has long been used by public safety agencies in some major cities, but under a Congressional mandate, has to be auctioned off...
FirstNet board votes to direct $218 million in network reinvestments
The First Responders Network Authority board has approved $218 million in network investment to support 5G and additional deployables for first responders using the FirstNet-AT&T network.
The FirstNet Authority said that the funds will support "initial...
Comtech Telecommunications said that it has finalized a $1.3 million contract expansion with an unnamed Tier 1 U.S. mobile network operator under which Comtech's Location Technologies group will support 5G location services for public safety and consumer applications.
Comtech's Location Technologies group's solutions include precise...
AT&T execs say that the pandemic is building awareness of FirstNet services
FirstNet now has 1.3 million connections, AT&T executives say, which reflects a 30% increase from the 1 million that the carrier reported in December.
FirstNet is now serving around 12,000 agencies, according to AT&T,...
The Federal Communications Commission has granted the Fire Department of New York expanded access to low-band spectrum in the New York metro area for public safety communications. The T-Band use will allow FDNY to expand capacity and coverage of its existing T-Band network to...
Samsung: 'MCPTX opens a new horizon in advancing public safety'
Samsung Electronics announced the successful demonstration of the world’s first video call on Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform using Mission Critical Push-to Talk, Data and Video (MCPTX), a communications capability developed specifically for first...
As the U.S. Navy sends its two massive medical ships to New York City and Los Angeles to provide additional hospital beds and free up local resources to treat COVID-10 patients, FirstNet-AT&T is boosting its coverage in both locations in support of the ships'...
AT&T’s low-band 5G coverage now includes 58 markets
AT&T has added 13 markets to its low-band 5G coverage map. Not to be confused with the 13 cities the operator announced on February 5th or the 13 on February 11th, these are a brand new 13,...
One of the first things anyone responding to a crisis will do – whether it’s a FirstNet subscriber, emergency responder, or private individual observing or personally involved in an emergency situation – is reach for their cell phone.
The stress of the situation only escalates...
AT&T says Band 14 build-out is more than 75% complete
AT&T-FirstNet is now serving more than a million connections, with more than 10,000 public safety agencies and organization subscribed to the service, AT&T reported.
The carrier said that its build out of Band 14 700 MHz...
