DALLAS, March 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* has been
selected by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to
build and manage the first broadband network dedicated to America's
police, firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS). The
FirstNet network will cover all 50 states, 5 U.S. territories and
the District of Columbia,
including rural communities and tribal lands in those states and
territories.
This is a much needed investment in America's communications
infrastructure to support millions of first responders and public
safety personnel nationwide who protect and serve more than 320
million people across the U.S. This significant public-private
infrastructure investment is expected to create 10,000 U.S. jobs
over the next two years from AT&T's work for FirstNet. The
network buildout will begin later this year.
Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and CEO, said, "We are
honored to work with FirstNet to build a network for America's
police, firefighters and EMS that is second to none. This is an
unprecedented public-private investment in infrastructure that
makes America a leader and public safety a national priority."
"Today is a landmark day for public safety across the Nation and
shows the incredible progress we can make through public-private
partnerships," said U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary
Wilbur Ross. "FirstNet is a critical
infrastructure project that will give our first responders the
communications tools they need to keep America safe and secure.
This public-private partnership will also spur innovation and
create over ten thousand new jobs in this cutting-edge sector."
Today, first responders use commercial networks – the same ones
used by consumers and businesses – for mobile data and
applications. That can be an issue when a significant public safety
crisis happens and commercial networks quickly become congested. It
makes it difficult for first responders to communicate, coordinate
and do their jobs.
Plus, first responders use more than 10,000 networks for voice
communications. These networks often do not interoperate, which
severely limits their ability to communicate with each other when
responding to a situation.
FirstNet's mission is to fix this. Through this new
public-private partnership with FirstNet, AT&T will deliver a
dedicated, interoperable network and ecosystem that will give first
responders the technology they need to better communicate and
collaborate across agencies and jurisdictions – local, state and
national.
"There's no connection more important than one that can save a
life," said Kay Kapoor, president,
AT&T Global Public Sector. "FirstNet is unprecedented in its
vision, scope and importance to our nation and the future of public
safety communications. We're honored to be selected for this
historic and critical initiative."
"This partnership brings together FirstNet as the voice of
public safety and a global technology team with a proven track
record and commitment to public safety," said FirstNet CEO
Mike Poth. "Together, FirstNet and
AT&T will move with precision and urgency to deliver this
much-needed infrastructure to those who need it the most: the first
responders we rely on in disasters and emergencies."
In addition to creating a nationwide seamless, IP-based,
high-speed mobile communications network that will give first
responders priority access, the network will help:
- Improve rescue and recovery operations to help keep first
responders out of harm's way
- Better connect first responders to the critical information
they need in an emergency
- Further the development of public safety focused IoT and Smart
City solutions such as providing near real-time information on
traffic conditions to determine the fastest route to an
emergency
- Enable advanced capabilities, like wearable sensors and cameras
for police and firefighters, and camera-equipped drones and robots
that can deliver near real-time images of events, such as fires,
floods or crimes
FirstNet and AT&T will innovate and evolve the network to
keep the public safety community at the forefront of technology
advances. For example, as 5G network capabilities develop in the
coming years, FirstNet and AT&T will work together to provide
the exponential increases in the speed with which video and data
travel across the FirstNet network.
To help FirstNet achieve its public safety mission, AT&T has
assembled a team that includes Motorola Solutions, General
Dynamics, Sapient Consulting and Inmarsat Government.
The broad terms of this 25-year agreement between FirstNet and
AT&T are:
- FirstNet will provide 20 MHz of high-value, telecommunications
spectrum and success-based payments of $6.5
billion over the next five years to support the network
buildout; FirstNet's funding was raised from previous FCC spectrum
auctions.
- AT&T will spend about $40
billion over the life of the contract to build, deploy,
operate and maintain the network, with a focus on ensuring robust
coverage for public safety users.
- Additionally, AT&T will connect FirstNet users to the
company's telecommunications network assets, valued at more than
$180 billion.
The strong participation of states in the FirstNet network will
help make this significant investment in America's communications
infrastructure a reality. As states join FirstNet, investment in
infrastructure and job creation will follow.
For more information on AT&T's selection, please visit
att.com/FirstResponderNews. For more information about FirstNet,
please visit FirstNet.gov/mediakit.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by
subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T
brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with
leading entertainment, mobile, high speed internet and voice
services. We're one of the world's largest providers of pay TV. We
have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. We
offer the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider.* And
we help businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our
mobility and highly secure cloud solutions. Between 2012 and 2016,
AT&T invested nearly $135 billion
in our U.S. wireless and wired networks, including capital
investment and acquisitions of wireless spectrum and operations.
And during the same period, AT&T invested more in the United States than any other public
company.
Additional information about AT&T products and services is
available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at
@ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/att.
© 2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service
marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated
companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of
their respective owners.
*Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and
data roaming; LTE roaming; and voice roaming in more countries than
any other U.S. based carrier. International service required.
Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country
and be limited/restricted in some countries.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains financial
estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to
risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ
materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results
is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise
statements contained in this news release based on new information
or otherwise.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.