Satellite will fill gaps in AT&T’s FirstNet emergency network

AT&T’s FirstNet public safety network plans to offer satellite connectivity to first responders in the first half of 2026 to fill gaps in nationwide coverage. FirstNet President Scott Agnew said, “You need a layered approach when deploying a public safety network.” AT&T’s mobile network covers nearly 3 million square miles in the U.S. The company also uses a fleet of deployables such as cell-towers-on-wheels, which can be delivered to areas that have been hit by disasters. “Now, this is that satellite layer that's going to go fill out that white space area for public safety,” said Agnew. In fact, in December 2025, some public safety organizations connected to the FirstNet network in West Texas on AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites in orbit. AT&T’s commercial mobile network and the FirstNet public-safety network are tightly integrated, and they’re both working with the satellite operator AST SpaceMobile to provide satellite connectivity to consumers and first responders.