The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) says that it will receive more than $8 billion in investments during the next decade. FirstNet, along with network partner AT&T, announced details of the first $6.3 billion of that support.
The $6.3 billion investment is finalized. It will be used to deploy full 5G capabilities and expand mission-critical services and Band 14 coverage. Discussions are ongoing for how to invest the final $2 billion.
Next month, AT&T will offer always-on and preemption across all of its 5G commercial spectrum. It is deploying a standalone 5G core that is based on industry standards and includes public safety functionality and features.
Other features of the investment:
- Deployment of thousands of purpose-built FirstNet cell sites nationwide, including 1,000 new sites within the next two years.
- Support for the transition of Band 14 spectrum – which supports public safety — from LTE to 5G.
- Expansion of mission-critical voice, video, data and location services to complement public safety’s localized, voice-only radio systems with wireless connectivity.
- Upgrading of a fleet of deployable network assets with 5G connectivity.
- Readying the network to evolve beyond 5G.
“With 5G, public safety will unlock new and innovative tools to keep them mission ready — and we aren’t stopping there,” FirstNet/AT&T President Jim Bugel said in a press release.
FirstNet has more than 5.5 million connections and supports about 27,500 public safety agencies and organizations.
Last April, FirstNet said that it hosted more than 25,000 public safety agencies and organizations, meaning that it claims to have expanded by about 2,500 agencies and organizations in less than a year.
