First states opt-in to AT&T-FirstNet plan

Virginia, Wyoming, Kentucky, and Arkansas are the first four states to opt-in to the AT&T-FirstNet plan to build a national wireless public safety network. The remaining states must decide Sept. 17 whether to opt-in to the plan or present their own plans that are interoperable with the nationwide network.

The AT&T-FirstNet partnership is a plan to build the first nationwide interoperable wireless broadband network for the country’s first responders. The contract is a 25-year agreement between FirstNet and AT&T, and will result in a $46.5 billion – $40 billion from AT&T and $6.5 billion from FirstNet – investment in infrastructure. Construction will begin in 2018.

“Firstnet will put modern technologies that citizens use every day – like smartphones and apps – into the hands of Virginia’s first responders, helping them help save lives and protect residents while creating a single, interoperable system across the Commonwealth and across the country,” said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe in a press release.

Links:

Virginia is First State to Opt in to AT&T FirstNet Plan (Telecompetitor, July 11, 2017)

Wyoming Commits to FirstNet (Broadcasting & Cable, July 11, 2017)

AT&T wins contract to build FirstNet emergency communications infrastructure (Speed Matters, Mar. 30, 2017)