AT&T Provides Sub-6GHz 5G Emergency Security Access in Ten Cities
AT&T
said on Monday that emergency personnel contracted with FirstNet can now use
its low-band 5G in 10 cities. In 10 places, FirstNet users can use the
operator's sub-6GHz 5G spectrum.
AT&T
said on Monday that emergency personnel contracted with FirstNet can now use
its low-band 5G in 10 cities.
In 10
locations, FirstNet users can use operator sub-6GHz 5G spectrum, including
Austin, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Knoxville, Phoenix,
Raleigh and San Antonio.
As early as
April of this year, AT&T tested 5G for FirstNet users in Houston. Earlier
this year, the company had opened 5G networks using millimeter wave spectrum
(branded as 5G+) to first responders in parts of 38 cities and 20 venues
through FirstNet. AT&T expects that by the end of 2021, two more cities and
20 venues (40 in total) will be added.
In terms of
business, AT&T's sub-GHz version 5G part uses dynamic spectrum sharing to
allocate and share spectrum resources between 4G and 5G users, covering 250
million people in nearly 500 markets in the United States.
According to
the operator, its 5G method for emergency personnel is different from that of
ordinary consumers, because public safety users have priority and preemptive
rights in LTE voice communications. In terms of data traffic, a dedicated
public safety network, as part of the public-private partnership between
AT&T and FirstNet Authority, will determine the best path to use 5G or
4G/LTE spectrum.
FirstNet has
20MHz dedicated spectrum for 14 bands, but users can also use AT&T's
commercial LTE frequency bands. Operators will not charge extra for 5G on
FirstNet, but first responders need a 5G device that can connect to FirstNet.
AT&T has
previously stated that it will support FirstNet to switch to 5G, including
upgrading to a 5G core network.
After
winning the contract to build FirstNet, AT&T vigorously promoted the
community of public safety and emergency personnel-bringing increasingly fierce
competition to this field, especially against the historically strong Verizon.
T-Mobile America has also taken its own actions to try to gain a foothold in
the field of public safety.
AT&T
Communications CEO Jeff McElfresh (Jeff McElfresh) said on the company's
second-quarter earnings conference call in July that more than 17,000 public
safety agencies have signed up with FirstNet, with more than 2.5 million users.
This is an increase from approximately 16,000 agencies and 2.2 million
connections at the end of the first quarter.
He
pointed out that these data highlight AT&T's competitiveness in this field.
"In the fiercely competitive wireless business, our market
share is growing. FirstNet has always been a key factor for us to gain share
and possibly replace other operators that have long-held strong positions in
the areas of public safety and communities." Michael Fresh said, "The
project continues to perform strongly and we have not seen any signs of slowing
down."