FirstNet is launching four new apps to help first responders call, text, share files and livestream during critical missions.

FirstNet is the only nationwide communications platform for first responders and public safety in the U.S.A’s high-speed wireless broadband network. It allows first responders to talk, text, and share media items such as pictures and videos at any time, regardless of their geographic location, jurisdiction and communication devices. This year, the platform supported over 2.2 million connections for 16,000 public safety agencies in the country, and this number is only expected to grow.
To further support first responders and ensure the public’s safety, FirstNet will be adding four new solutions to its repertoire of more than 170 trusted FirstNet certified solutions.
“Since FirstNet launched, the network has continued to drive the expansion of the public safety broadband marketplace,” said Ed Parkinson, CEO of FirstNet Authority. “We are pleased to join AT&T in welcoming these newest innovations to the FirstNet ecosystem as the network continues to evolve to meet public safety’s critical communications needs.”

Motorola Solutions Augments Interoperability Between All First Responders
Interoperability is the ability of a network to support communication and data transmission from all kinds of devices, equipment, geographic locations and network reach. In the case of FirstNet, this means granting first responders from various agencies the ability to communicate mission-critical information with each other.
To galvanize its interoperability capabilities, FirstNet has collaborated with Motorola Solutions to produce a new mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) service that will be launched toward the end of this year. Aside from making the coolest flip phone in history, Motorola Solutions have made tremendous advances in mission-critical LMR interoperability. Motorola’s Critical Connect allows voice and data to be exchanged across all LMR networks, as well as Motorola broadband push-to-talk devices. Whether it’s across towns, cities or states, Critical Connect provides users with a vast network of agencies from a single point of entry. These networks can be set up easily. A monthly subscription manages the number of agencies that the user wishes to interface with for sharing voice, video, location and even intelligence data in real-time. By harnessing these capabilities, FirstNet’s new solution offers seamless connectivity between MCPTT systems, land mobile radios (LMR) systems and AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk (EPTT) systems.

MissionKeeper Enables First Responders to Livestream During Missions
As another addition to FirstNet’s catalog of solutions, MissionKeeper uses KSI Data Sciences’ MissionCaster and its iOS mobile app to grant multiple users access to livestreamed data. This data is captured via a network of drones, remote-operated vehicles (ROV), robots, dashcams and various other IoT (Internet of Things) devices that safely broadcast the data to the cloud in a multi-POV setting.

With MissionKeeper, an unlimited number of remote users from the world over can securely collaborate and share livestreamed data through their MissionKeeper smartphone or computer apps. It also offers support apps, such as live chat, live maps for enhanced geospatial awareness and cloud-based storage capabilities for later analysis. Participants can either be invited in advance or join on the fly, allowing scalability and flexibility as the mission proceeds. As a democratic livestream sharing tool, MissionKeeper lets all levels of command view and act on a shared information pool, limiting critical delays in communication as the situation unfolds. Lastly, with its interoperability capabilities, members of other agencies can be invited to join at any time should the need arise.

NetMotion Further Secures the Connection Between First Responders
As a mobile VPN solution, NetMotion’s Mobility Solution provides secure connections to dedicated FirstNet networks. As a solution designed specifically for mobile workers, it provides seamless remote access through coverage gaps and areas of weak signals. Eschewing multiple complex logins and adopting a one-time login for the entire workday, first responders will be able to suspend and resume their usage without worrying about disconnecting, rebooting, lagging, freezing or failing to receive real-time information.
Users will have the ability to operate transparently between Wi-Fi and wired networks. The Mobility Solution is also compatible with mobile device management (MDM) solutions approved by FirstNet. Packet loss recovery and data compression ensure accelerated web traffic regardless of the network being used.
The solution offers NSA Suite B cryptography and FIPS 140-2 validation encryption. Through strong interoperability and encryption, users can detect hotspots without disabling VPN. Furthermore, configuration and management information can be stored on a mobility server or a collection of servers.
NetMotion provides three add-ons to further facilitate the user’s experience. In the policy module, administrators have the ability to regulate the quality and speed of data transmission. They can create customized access to the network on both the individual level as well as on the organization level. In the analytics module, users will have access to all reports, charts and graphs on the NetMotion Mobility Solution’s usage, performance and networks that it is connected to. Lastly, in the Mobility Network Access Control (NAC) module, all devices subscribed to the NetMotion Mobility Solution are scanned for adequate firewall, antispyware, antiviruses and an up-to-date OS before a connection can take place. Only those devices with compliant software and security measures are granted access to the necessary data and applications.
FirstNet Messaging Helps First Responders Text and Share Files
The fourth solution being offered is FirstNet Messaging, a messaging service that allows encrypted one-to-one and group messaging for all first responders on FirstNet, regardless of their subscription type. Any device that has text messaging capabilities can be used for this app, allowing users to send messages to a maximum of 20,000 recipients. Files as large as 5MB can be shared, including voice recordings that can be as long as five minutes. The messaging service supports a range of protocols (e.g., SNPP, TAP, SMTP), is compatible with all U.S. carriers and features an SMS service as an alternative if Internet connectivity fails. Moreover, a delivery confirmation feature provides 100 percent visibility and ease of mind for users that the information shared has been delivered and read securely.

Call to Arms
An estimated 240 million calls are made to 911 in the U.S. every year. For a country with a population of nearly 333 million people, such a volume of calls is astounding, representing 72 percent of the total population. With so many people asking for help on an annual basis—be it fire hazards, health hazards or a gamut of law enforcement emergencies—the need for a robust, reliable communication system between first responders is vital. As FirstNet continues to add to its catalog of services, first responders all over the country are being bolstered in serving the public and keeping everyone safe.