The Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA) announced that FirstNet, AT&T’s (NYSE: T) public safety network, has expanded to reach rural and remote communities and now covers more than 2.99 million square miles, surpassing competing commercial cellular networks by nearly 250,000 square miles. PSBTA points out this expanded footprint ensures public safety personnel can stay connected during routine operations and emergency situations, whether in dense urban areas or rural towns.
Besides an expanded footprint, FirstNet says its capabilities are being improved:
- AT&T and the FirstNet Authority committed to an additional $8 billion investment over 10 years for continued deployment of 5G for first responders, an expanded fleet of deployables, and new mission-critical services and technologies.
- As part of its disaster-readiness posture, FirstNet maintains a dedicated fleet of over 180 deployable assets including satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs), flying COWs (Cell on Wings), and high-power user equipment that boosts signal in hard-to-reach, isolated areas.
The FirstNet Central Network Status Map provides first responders with:
- Real-time visibility into network health and application performance.
- Updates on maintenance, outages, and restoration at a hyper-local level.
- Live tracking of portable deployables (like COWs and SatCOLTs).
- Custom automated notifications based on location or service area.
“FirstNet stands out not only because of its unmatched geographical reach but also because of its continued innovation, transparency, and commitment to public safety,” comments Rich Carrizzo, Fire Chief (ret) of Southern Platte Fire Protection District and former FirstNet Authority Board Chairman. Highlighting that FirstNet now has over 7 million active connections and with strategic investments scheduled the next decade, Carrizzo adds, “Whether a first responder is in a remote area after a disaster or in a large city, FirstNet ensures that fire, EMS, police, and federal responders are not just connected, but always informed.”
Reader Interactions