AT&T doubles FirstNet connections over last year

AT&T has doubled its FirstNet connections since July 2017. FirstNet, the First Responder Network Authority, is the first nationwide wireless broadband network for the country’s first responders. In 2017, AT&T won the 25-year federal contract that will result in a $46.5 billion investment in infrastructure. Earlier this year, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two US territories opted into the network.

“More than 2,500 public safety agencies across the country have joined FirstNet,” AT&T said in a release. “This is nearly double the number of agencies since the last update in July.”

It is no coincidence that this update from AT&T follows reports that Verizon throttled the data of the Santa Clara County Fire Department while it was fighting the still ongoing Mendocino Complex Fire, the largest wildfire in California’s history.

Links:

AT&T-FirstNet says 2,500 agencies have signed on for service (RCR Wireless, Aug. 30, 2018)

All 50 states opt-in to FirstNet (Speed Matters, Jan. 4, 2018)

Verizon throttled CA firefighters’ data while they were firefighting (Speed Matters, Aug. 27, 2018)