In 2011, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved the use of the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication standard for a next-generation first responder communication network. In 2012, the U.S. Congress funded the initiative and allocated the necessary electromagnetic spectrum for it. The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) was established as an independent agency to setup and manage the network.
Since then, FirstNet has dedicated itself to determining the technical requirements and specifications of the network, and engages with various public and private partners to plan and execute the implementation. In 2017, FirstNet chose AT&T to build the network. In early 2018, the company delivered the “network core,” the first step in making the network available to emergency services agencies nationwide.
The FirstNet network gives first responders communications capabilities they have never had before:
On top of all that, the FirstNet system will have an app catalog, similar to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Apps will be developed to bring innovative solutions and enhancements to the network.
FirstNet was also designed with security in mind from the ground up as an important principle. The network is designed to be resistant to hacking, eavesdropping, spoofing, jamming, and other attacks. The entire network will be monitored around the clock by a dedicated AT&T team to analyze, identify, and defend against attacks.
The FirstNet network operates on “Band 14,” a 20-megahertz swatch of radio band separate from commercial cellular frequencies. In a phased approach, AT&T is enabling this band by adding equipment to its cell towers. Happily, some existing LTE devices can operate on the network simply by installing a new SIM card; others will need software upgrades as well, but none should need any hardware modifications. Samsung’s new Galaxy S9 phones are among those already available for use with FirstNet. Other manufacturers will soon introduce FirstNet-compatible devices as well.
The core network that AT&T recently launched is the foundation of the system. The other major component is the radio access network (RAN), which includes the cell tower equipment and protocols to communicate with individual devices. The RAN is designed for reliability and resiliency, including redundant power sources and other features to make the system robust against the physical damage that is inevitable in a natural disaster scenario.
Taken together, the FirstNet system, infrastructure, protocols, devices, and app ecosystem should enable emergency services to provide faster, more targeted, and more coordinated responses to all types of large-scale emergency situations. The result will be faster resolution, fewer oversights and errors, better safety for first responders, and more lives saved. It’s been a long time in the making, but the final product will be well worth the time and money invested.