The First Responder Network Authority detailed a five-year plan to advance a nationwide public safety broadband system with regard to the network core, capacity and coverage, situational awareness, information exchange security, voice communications and user experience, Government Technology reported Friday.
Under the FirstNet Authority Roadmap, the U.S. government intends to provide ubiquitous network access, increase real-time communications, address security issues and ensure ease of use. In addition, the FirstNet organization plans to continue the installation of portable cells called œdeployables for handling services as needed.
Stacy Schwartz, vice president of public safety and FirstNet at AT&T (NYSE: T), said the vision that the company helped create for the network is “coming to fruition.”
œWe all need to be connected, from the police department to the fire department to the person in the ER. They all need to be on the network for the vision to be realized, and these numbers tell us that we are getting there, she added.
Public safety agencies have used the network to transmit data during 175 missions this year. According to Schwartz, different organizations beyond fire, police and medical emergency departments are also embracing the new communications system.
