For the past two weeks I have been sidelined with a nasty infection I appear to have brought home as a souvenir from IWCE in Orlando. Many important things happened during this time so this week I will recap some of them and attempt to catch up. Some of the news has to do with the fact that FirstNet completed its Evolved Packet Core (EPC) for use by only the first responder community, Verizon says its core is up and running and the FirstNet core is “vaporware,” the FirstNet Authority tasked FirstNet to build out public safety band 14, AT&T has stated that the FirstNet network build-out will happen a lot quicker than five years, and much more.
FirstNet Core: Let’s start with the FirstNet core. The core of an LTE network is the brains of the network. AT&T has been offering up all of its LTE spectrum with full priority and pre-emption for public safety and now the redundant brain of the network is also up and running. This means several important things. First, the public safety network is really end-to-end and available for public safety only, and the core is hardened and separate from AT&T’s customer core, ensuring Public safety traffic will remain separate and apart on the overall AT&T LTE network and band 14 (the FirstNet spectrum). The core is the final step in the end-to-end encrypted LTE network. Because public safety devices have their own SIM identification number, they are instantly identified as members of a network riding on a network. Public safety users, while on the same LTE spectrum AT&T is using for its commercial users, are segmented so public safety users have priority, better data encryption, and access to the public safety core. Even when AT&T’s secondary (commercial) users are sharing bandwidth they have no access to the FirstNet core or any way to intermingle with FirstNet users.
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FirstNet Association Forms to Bridge Gap with Users, Vendors
RadioResource Media Group Apr 4 14:45
Ray Flynn, retired assistant sheriff from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and Richard Mirgon, past president of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, will also lead the association. Public-safety professionals must have access to the women and …
This tough, $700 phone is meant for first responders, but you can buy it if you want
The Verge Apr 4 12:16
There’s also support for the AT&T-powered FirstNet public safety wireless network, and to top it all off, Sonim offers a three-year warranty that even covers accidental damage, which speaks to a certain level of confidence in the finished product here. Is the XP8 the best smartphone you can buy for …
WEBINAR: 3.5 GHz: 5G Beachfront Property or Rural Broadband Solution?
NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association Apr 5 16:10
Then the large nationwide carriers swooped in to claim the band for 5G use. The FCC is now considering retooling the rules to accommodate both 5G and fixed broadband use. Join us to learn more about the 3.5 GHz process and the strategy for ensuring rural Americans can enjoy this spectrum.
This NYC Startup Raised $38M to Help The Police Fight Crime With Software
AlleyWatch Apr 5 14:40
In starting Mark43, we set out to usher in a new era of public safety technology by building a cloud-based software platform that both cuts down on time spent on collecting and entering information, and enables first responders to easily manage, share, and act on this data in real-time, wherever they …
SceneDoc Welcomes TJ Kennedy, Former FirstNet President, to its Executive Advisory …
Markets Insider Apr 5 13:40
SceneDoc Welcomes TJ Kennedy, Former FirstNet President, to its Executive Advisory CouncilPublic Safety Broadband Veteran Brings Wealth of Experience to …
FCC cuts to Lifeline threaten vulnerable Puerto Ricans, non-profit says
The Daily Dot Apr 5 11:55
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) plan to cut phone and broadband Lifeline program as a potential death sentence for vulnerable …
Revamped NTIA BroadbandUSA Website Taps Other Agencies for Broadband Resources
Telecompetitor Apr 5 10:45
NTIA said the revamped website is designed to inform the public about NTIA’s work to expand broadband connectivity through educating, convening and assisting stakeholders. The new website is to serve as a one-stop shop for broadband information around the federal government and should make it …
Telstra and Ericsson to continue leadership in network evolution in 2018
Connect-World Apr 5 05:10
This foundation built on Ericsson Radio System solutions will extend 5G-like characteristics into the 4G domain as Telstra’s 4G mobile infrastructure evolves beyond gigabit speeds, supports millions of connected things through Australia’s only dual NB-IoT (Narrowband-Internet of Things) and Cat-M1 …
NTIA Updates BroadbandUSA
Multichannel News Apr 4 18:45
The National Telecommunications & Information Administration, the White House’s chief telecom policy advisor, has launched a revamped BroadbandUSA website and broadband map. The site was first launched as part of the Obama Administration’s broadband stimulus funding initiative. That stimulus …
Narrowband Land Mobile Radio Market by Sub segments, Industry Demands & Trends, Market …
Business Services Apr 4 17:50
Global Narrowband Land Mobile Radio Market report analyse the production, revenue, gross margin of its main manufacturers and the unit price that they offer in different regions from 2013 to 2018. The Narrowband Land Mobile Radio market report also provides in depth analysis & prediction on …
Global Narrowband Internet-of-Things (IoT) Chipset market Production, Capacity, Capacity …
Real Facts Apr 4 15:50
Narrowband Internet-of-Things (IoT) Chipset Market Report Deliver an in-depth assessment of the Narrowband Internet-of-Things (IoT) Chipset including qualifying Technologies, Key trends, Market drivers, Challenges, Standardization, regulatory landscape, deployment models, opportunities, future …
FCC ID Apr 4 12:50
China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Approval Status for GSM/TD-LTE/Cellular Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) Repeater with Authorization CMIIT ID 2018CP1330.
Cradlepoint evolves LTE router portfolio, management capability
Urgent Communications Apr 4 10:35
Cradlepoint continues to enhance its LTE wireless-router portfolio while providing a cloud-based NetCloud network-management solution that can make it much easier for public-safety agencies to maintain and monitor their broadband connections, according to company officials.
Vodafone and Ericsson achieve 5G breakthrough
Siliconrepublic.com Apr 4 10:15
5G technology will complement the narrowband internet of things [NB-IoT] network we rolled out last year. They are part of the same 5G tech family. Existing narrowband combined with 5G will support the growth of the internet of things in Ireland, making society smarter and even more efficient..
+25% CAGR to be achieved by Public Safety LTE Devices Market based on Device Type …
satPRnews Apr 4 09:40
Due to the bandwidth limitations of traditional voice-centric LMR networks, public safety agencies are interested in leveraging commercial cellular network technology to support the growing requirement of broadband applications. Considering its booming network, spectrum flexibility, and performance …
Cities to FCC: Stop Undermining Us
Light Reading Apr 4 06:30
Another city leader has parted ways with the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee.
Navigant Research Report Shows the Annual Market for Global Smart City Communication …
NewsOK.com Apr 4 05:50
With the Internet of Things (IoT) market set to expand over the next 10 years, there is a need for continued evolution of these networks and increasing interest in emerging cellular offerings such as 5G networks, Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), and LTE-Cat-M1. The report ,, analyzes the challenges and …
Navy chooses HF radios from Rohde & Schwarz
Military & Aerospace Electronics Apr 4 05:50
The Rohde & Schwarz series 2000 HF transceivers consist of 1000-Watt single-channel narrowband radios with link capabilities and 200-microsecond quick tune capability. The company’s series 4100 HF transceivers consist of 1000-, 500-, and 150-Watt single-channel narrowband software-defined …
SpaceX gets OK to launch 4,425 satellites using Ka, Ku bands
TA News RSS Apr 4 01:45
The US FCC approved an application by SpaceX to provide broadband services using satellite technology in the United States and around the world, marking the first time the U.S. has OK’d a satellite constellation using a new generation of low-Earth orbit satellite technologies. SpaceX was granted conditional authority to use frequencies in the Ka (20-GHz to 30-GHz) and Ku (11-GHz to 14-GHz) bands to provide global internet service. The company, which plans to launch…
Public Safety Leaders Unveil New Association Dedicated to FirstNet User Community
PR Newswire Apr 3 14:10
LAS VEGAS, April 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Today, a group of leaders in the public safety community announced the creation of the FirstNet Association, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between end users of the first fully designated public safety wireless broadband network, and those …
FCC Boss Under Fire For Facts-Optional Attack On Low-Income Broadband Programs
Techdirt Apr 3 13:16
The program, started under Reagan and expanded under Bush Jr., simply gives low-income homes a $9.25 credit they can use for home phone, …
Is the FCC’s BDAC falling apart?
FierceTelecom Apr 3 11:45
The FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee’s (BDAC) was hit with yet another blow this week as New York City’s CTO Miguel Gamio Jr. …
FCC Chair Wants To Streamline Satellite Constellation Licensing
WMFE Apr 3 04:45
Pai wants the FCC to streamline the process by giving a blanket approval to identical satellites, while still ensuring public safety. There’s no need to go through the same checklist for each and every one because that could deter innovation so finding that sweet spot is what we’re looking at now. Satellite …
Wireless innovation – From LTE-U/LAA to 5G spectrum sharing
4 Traders Apr 2 23:00
Wireless innovation – From LTE-U/LAA to 5G spectrum sharing. Qualcomm products mentioned within this post are offered by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. February 22 is a big date in the history of mobile broadband for several reasons. On that date last year, the FCC approved …
YouTube shooting: Sundar Pichai writes letter to employees, more details emerge about the shooter
BGR Apr 4 07:40
… latest informationfour people were injured in this horrific act of violence. We’re doing everything we can to support them and their families at this time. I’m grateful to everyone inside and outside the company for the outpouring of support and best wishes. I am especially thankful to the first responders …