FirstNet Authority to Expand Network, Boost Coverage For Public Safety with More Sites, Satellite Connectivity

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) will further expand FirstNet and strengthen wireless broadband coverage for first responders, including public safety agencies serving rural, remote, and hard-to-reach areas. Through strategic investments, the FirstNet Authority is directing the network contractor, AT&T, to deploy more than 135 new, purpose-built cell sites across the country. These sites will add more coverage to the initial FirstNet nationwide buildout, completed in 2023, and to the 1,000 sites launched in 2024 and 2025 to further expand Band 14, public safety’s dedicated lane of connectivity. In addition to adding new purpose-built sites, the FirstNet Authority will continue to invest in solutions that improve indoor coverage on FirstNet. Based on public safety feedback, the FirstNet Authority has invested in the deployment of more than 14,000 miniature cell sites. These cell sites strengthen coverage inside public safety’s critical facilities at no cost to the public safety agencies. The FirstNet Authority also is upgrading the dedicated FirstNet network core to support future public safety-specific satellite-to-device capabilities, such as priority and preemption on Band 14, as well as mission-critical push-to-talk. Once available, these solutions will complement the terrestrial network and enable first responders to access FirstNet in remote and hard-to-reach areas, helping them stay connected during emergencies and after disasters.