FirstNet Fleet Expands Emergency Response Assets

FirstNet (built with AT&T) is expanding its dedicated fleet of deployable network assets for public safety. FirstNet provides fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement with unthrottled access to connectivity, including in the immediate aftermath of a storm or other disaster when commercial power and other infrastructure may be disrupted.

Public safety now has access to a dedicated fleet of 100+ land-based and airborne portable cell sites, all at no additional charge.

New additions include:

Communications Vehicles (CVs): The company has stationed three CVs across the country to provide support beyond the standard deployable asset for first responders when needed. These new assets can be used for emergency deployments or planned events such as training exercises. In addition to providing connectivity via LTE (high-quality Band 14 spectrum) and/or Wi-Fi similar to a Satellite Cell on Light Truck (SatCOLT), CVs provide an air-conditioned command space for two first responder communications personnel with multiple monitors, a television, and charging stations, as well as a large exterior screen and speakers for briefings. Since they are equipped with a generator that can run for multiple days before refueling, CVs also include a lavatory, microwave, mini refrigerator, and sleeping bunk for deployment during the harshest of conditions.

Micro SatCOLTs: Four of these stations are deployed in the West to support the 2021 wildfire season. Similar to the compact rapid deployables available to agencies to own, Micro SatCOLTs can be easily deployed by a single technician within minutes once onsite. Their agility makes them ideal for supporting firefighters on the front lines as they adjust to wildfires..

U.S. Territory Assets: FirstNet supports America’s entire public safety community. That means first responders in all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia. It has dedicated assets stationed in Puerto Rico and the three Pacific territories. It also has added two new portable assets in the U.S. Virgin Islands to provide immediate support.

Land-based Assets: The company has added 10 SatCOLTs to provide first responders similar capabilities and connectivity as a cell tower. They’re housed across more than 50 locations nationwide to enable a 14-hour delivery window following the initial emergency request.

The FirstNet fleet can also go airborne with three FirstNet Flying COWs (cell on wings) and the FirstNet One aerostat. FirstNet One is a public safety communications solution that can fly up to 1,000 feet and replaces multiple ground-based portable cell sites, making them available to deploy elsewhere. In addition to the FirstNet fleet, public safety can also tap into the 300+ assets from the AT&T Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) fleet when available.