Superfast FirstNet Crosses Half Million Connections
The FirstNet communications platform has well passed the half-a-million mark, with over 600,000 device connections being used by more than 7,250 public safety agencies.
The platform is continuing the expansion of its coverage, capacity and functionality available for first responders, with the parent companies saying it consistently performs over 25 percent faster than any commercial network.
Recent agencies to subscribe to FirstNet include AAA Ambulance Service, American Medical Response, Anchorage Police Department, Chicago Police Department, Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Seattle Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard.
A majority of agencies and nearly 50 percent of FirstNet’s total connections are new subscribers (not AT&T migrations), and that mix continues to shift. Since January, most of the FirstNet connections added are new subscribers to AT&T. This underscores the role FirstNet is playing to expand Public Safety’s adoption of wireless functionalities.
FirstNet is for all Public Safety – career and volunteer, urban, rural or tribal. So, AT&T launched the FirstNet Digital Sign Up Portal to help qualified first responders gain access to FirstNet service. Individual first responders can now subscribe online at virtually any time, from anywhere.
According to data of AT&T, the FirstNet network also performs more than 25% faster than commercial networks. AT&T was recognized as the fastest wireless network in the nation, according to the first quarter 2019 results of tests taken with Speedtest as analyzed by Ookla.
The parent companies said to better serve public safety, the reach of the FirstNet communications platform is continuously extended. Band 14 spectrum was deployed in more than 600 markets.
Picture: Courtesey of FirstNet
