AT&T has announced a significant milestone for FirstNet, now supporting over 6.4 million connections across more than 29,000 public-safety agencies. AT&T CEO John Stankey praised the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recent decision to allow the FirstNet Authority to manage the 4.9 GHz spectrum through a collaboration with a nationwide band manager, highlighting the potential this move unlocks for the evolution of public-safety communications.

In a quarterly call with analysts, Stankey highlighted AT&T’s role in recent emergency response efforts, including FirstNet’s pivotal support in recovery operations following Hurricane Helene, which drew on the strength and scalability of AT&T’s network. “Our FirstNet organization provides a meaningfully differentiated product to public safety during events like these,” Stankey stated. “Responding to 200 requests during Hurricane Helene recovery was among our most extensive emergency responses to date.”

Notably, key public-safety agencies—including the New York City Police Department, the Fire Department of New York City, and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety—utilize FirstNet, recognizing its unique platform tailored to first responders’ critical needs.

Stankey expressed AT&T’s support for the FCC’s recent 4.9 GHz report and order, which authorizes a new band manager to collaborate with the FirstNet Authority in deploying a dedicated 50 MHz frequency for advanced 5G services. “We applaud the FCC’s decision to provide the FirstNet Authority with access to 50 MHz of spectrum to advance nationwide 5G capabilities for first responders. We are excited to work together on strategies that will bring these enhanced capabilities to the public-safety community.”

Stankey also noted that while the expansion of the 4.9 GHz infrastructure will be a gradual process, it holds immense promise for enhancing public-safety broadband. “If the FirstNet Authority chooses to deploy this spectrum as it has previously, this will involve thoughtful infrastructure planning and implementation. It’s a long-term vision rather than an immediate expansion, but it brings substantial opportunity for growth.”

AT&T’s previous work with FirstNet on the 700 MHz Band 14 provides a roadmap for integrating new spectrum capabilities. Before the completion of the Band 14 network in March 2023, FirstNet allowed public-safety users access to AT&T’s commercial network, which offered priority and preemption services in regions awaiting dedicated Band 14 coverage.

Stankey highlighted that a similar phased approach could be applied to the 4.9 GHz spectrum. “Our ongoing partnership with the FirstNet Authority presents win-win scenarios. Just as we initially leveraged AT&T’s commercial spectrum to deliver FirstNet’s critical capabilities, we can apply the same approach with the 4.9 GHz spectrum—enabling early access to advanced 5G services while working toward full integration.”

As AT&T collaborates with the FirstNet Authority on this promising new spectrum, Stankey emphasized the shared goal of advancing the next generation of dedicated, differentiated public-safety services: “Together, we have the opportunity to create a future-ready public-safety network, one that evolves with the needs of first responders and leverages the best of 5G technology to enhance safety and efficiency.”