FirstNet developing base stations for police cars, but deployment still several years away

FirstNet, which has been tasked with building a nationwide LTE network for emergency workers, is working to create portable cellular base stations that can ride inside police cars and other vehicles, thereby allowing emergency workers to quickly and easily deploy wireless networks in remote areas. However, FirstNet said the technology likely won't be deployed for several more years. Specifically, FirstNet said it expects to deploy the technology -- which it calls the mobile communications unit (MCU) -- around 36 months after it manages to find a network partner, like a Tier 1 wireless carrier.

FirstNet's deputy director of communications, Ryan Oremland, said that FirstNet's MCU deployment schedule is based on satellite connectivity development timelines. FirstNet's MCU would connect a satellite modem and rooftop satellite antenna technology to FirstNet's main system, thereby allowing MCU vehicles to act as base stations for the network. FirstNet said MCUs will likely include in-vehicle routers, local eNodeB and antenna (for use in the vehicle remote base station) and local evolved packet core elements.