The FirstNet Authority and its network partner, AT&T, are announcing a major investment in the future of public safety communications. The FirstNet Authority’s 10-year, $8 billion investment initiative will evolve and expand FirstNet — America’s public safety network. The FirstNet Authority plans to invest $6.3 billion through its network contract with AT&T and anticipates an additional $2 billion for ongoing investments in coverage enhancements for public safety, which is currently under discussion by the parties. These strategic investments will expand and evolve FirstNet so public safety stays at the forefront of innovative, lifesaving technologies.

As public safety’s partner, AT&T has already grown FirstNet — the only network built with and for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community — to cover more first responders than any network nationwide. With more than 5.5 millionconnections and about 27,500 public safety agencies and organizations on FirstNet,² first responders can reliably communicate with one another during everyday operations, big events, emergencies in the field, and more.

This landmark announcement launches the next phase of FirstNet with a 10-year investment initiative that will:

• Provide public safety on FirstNet with always-on priority and preemption across all AT&T 5G commercial spectrum bands, starting in March.

• Build thousands of new, purpose-built FirstNet cell sites across the country – including 1,000 new sites within the next two years. Beyond the initial $6.3 billion investment, the FirstNet Authority anticipates additional investments over the next decade to deliver Band 14 coverage enhancements. These coverage investments will reflect public safety factors and network considerations, all in support of public safety response operations.

• Create a standalone 5G core to enhance current 5G functionality with specific public safety features on FirstNet and support the transition of public safety’s Band 14 spectrum from LTE to 5G.

• Expand mission-critical services — voice, video, data, and location — to complement public safety’s localized, voice-only radio systems with reliable, wireless connectivity.

• Upgrade public safety’s dedicated fleet of deployable network assets with 5Gconnectivity to improve operational safety, security, and resiliency.

• Ready the network to evolve beyond 5G, while remaining focused on public safety’s unique needs and emerging requirements when implementing future technological advancements.

Why is this important? FirstNet is a catalyst for technology and innovation for public safety. The network has created a robust ecosystem of mission-centric apps, solutions, and dedicated connectivity for public safety operations. This strategic investment initiative ensures FirstNet remains at the forefront of technology, continues to solve the communications challenges facing public safety today, and has the flexibility to adapt to public safety’s future needs.

With the initial buildout of FirstNet complete, this investment initiative will expand access to public safety’s Band 14 spectrum in the near term, with plans for additional coverage enhancements on a recurring basis. The FirstNet Authority will work closely with public safety across the states, territories, and tribal lands to identify areas that could benefit from broader coverage. The FirstNet Authority will take this information into account, along with other public safety factors and network considerations, to ensure future coverage enhancements maximize investment dollars and make the biggest impact to public safety operations.

The transition to a full 5G network will enable FirstNet to keep pace with current evolutions in technology and 3GPP standards-based mission critical advancements. The planned 5G network upgrades will generate faster speeds, increase capacity, enhance the quality of service for FirstNet users, and drive innovations in 5G mission critical services. Throughout this multi-year transition to a full 5G network, the existing FirstNet 4G LTE network will remain fully operational and maintain the high level of service that first responders have come to rely on.

This announcement does not change AT&T’s financial guidance information provided during its January 2024 earnings.

Why does public safety need a unified, standalone 5G core? By delivering a standalone 5G core, FirstNet will be able to evolve with public safety-specific technological advancements in the coming years that simply aren’t possible with 4G, while maintaining its always-on priority and preemption that is critical for mission-critical communications.

5G’s ability to handle large amounts of data and connect more devices at once is essential to enabling the future of emergency response. From using drones to transmit high-definition video during search and rescue operations to opening the door to an influx of Internet of Things (IoT) data that will enhance situational awareness and improve emergency patient care, 5G is the foundation for the future of first responder-centric technologies.

Plus, by integrating 5G on FirstNet with 9-1-1, public safety will be able to leverage the full potential of this technology, allowing for a more informed and rapid response to emergencies.

What is FirstNet? FirstNet was shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Built in an unprecedented public-private partnership, FirstNet stands above commercial offerings. The FirstNet network provides first responders with truly dedicated coverage and capacity when they need it, unique benefits like mission-critical services, and high-quality Band 14 spectrum to help save lives and protect communities. The FirstNet Authority has a legislative mandate and self-sustaining business model that requires it to invest program generated funds back into the network. 

Where can I find more information? Visit FirstNet.gov to learn more about the FirstNet Authority and how the federal government is delivering on its promise to public safety. For more about the value FirstNet is bringing to public safety, check out FirstNet.com. And go here for more FirstNet news.