Benefits of FirstNet

Today, first responders rely on more than 10,000 separate, incompatible, and often proprietary radio networks to communicate with each other during emergencies.  It can be difficult or even impossible for public safety to communicate and work together to save lives.  The FirstNet network will be a single, nationwide, interoperable LTE network dedicated to public safety communications to address these challenges.

Emergencies do not happen only in the highly populated areas, which is why reaching rural America is one of the FirstNet's top priorities.  FirstNet is addressing rural coverage needs and is working to deploy the network in places where coverage may be difficult.  High-power towers can cover more rural space with less total infrastructure, as can deployable and satellite solutions.

FirstNet can carry high-speed data, location information, images, and video that prove crucial when every second counts.  Just as smartphones have created a new era of real-time information and connectedness for individuals, the FirstNet network, devices, and applications enable the awareness and collaboration that the public safety community needs.

During emergencies, public safety personnel need to be able to communicate seamlessly - lives depend on it.  It is vital that our Nation's law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other responders have true priority for their daily and emergency communications needs.  This is why FirstNet is deploying a wireless broadband network dedicated solely to public safety.

It is not only in emergency situations that public safety requires the capacity to communicate and send data.  Planned events - such as concerts, festivals, and sporting events - draw crowds to a single location, making it difficult for public safety to get the robust network capacity needed. FirstNet provides the needed bandwidth to coordinate public safety resources and respond to any incident. 

The FirstNet network is designed to deliver applications, devices, and services tailored to the needs of public safety.  FirstNet will be a resilient, reliable network, enabling everything from smartphones to laptops, tablets, dongles, and specialty devices to work when public safety needs them the most.

First responders in every state face the challenge of preparing for and responding to natural disasters.  Reliable communications are an integral component of any plan or response effort.  By ensuring a reliable communications system is in place, FirstNet can help public safety save lives and secure communities, assisting public safety and rescue crews before, during, and after a disaster.

When facing a man-made attack, the ability to communicate is essential to first responders. Incident commanders need to convey vital data to every first responder as quickly as possible.  FirstNet delivers a broadband network with interoperability built-in to enhance public safety's ability to protect and serve.

With the potential for millions of users on a single LTE Network, FirstNet hopes to foster creation of a new ecosystem in which entities compete to deliver applications and other services through the FirstNet Network.  The nationwide scale brought by FirstNet will maximize the value of every public safety dollar spent by allowing public safety end-users to take advantage of an increasingly competitive marketplace.

FirstNet uses a "for public safety, by public safety" approach to planning and deploying the network.  Through consultation and outreach programs, FirstNet has worked hand-in-hand with the public safety community to understand the capacity coverage, services, and other public safety grade features needed to communicate and use 21st-century tools on the job.