Tag: frontline

Enhancing Public Safety Response with Cellular Routers

Reliable communication is paramount for public safety agencies to effectively respond to emergencies and ensure the well-being of communities. To meet these critical demands, specialized sections of cellular networks have been established exclusively for public safety use. Companies like AT&T with FirstNet, Verizon and its Frontline service, and T-Mobile’s Connecting Heroes program have pioneered this innovation, offering dedicated networks that empower first responders with seamless, prioritized, and resilient communication capabilities.

The Need for Dedicated Networks

Traditional cellular networks are designed to handle a multitude of users engaging in various activities, such as browsing the internet, streaming videos, and sending emails. However, during emergencies or large-scale events, the surge in network traffic can overload these systems, compromising communication channels for first responders and emergency personnel. Dedicated networks for public safety address this challenge by creating a separate, prioritized infrastructure that ensures consistent access to communication resources, even in the most demanding situations.

AT&T FirstNet: A Game-Changer in Public Safety

Launched by AT&T in partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), FirstNet is a dedicated cellular network designed exclusively for first responders. With its separate spectrum and specialized infrastructure, FirstNet ensures that public safety agencies have the bandwidth they need when it matters most. This means that firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other emergency personnel can communicate and coordinate effectively without facing network congestion.

One of the key features of FirstNet is its priority and preemption capabilities. During emergencies, FirstNet users are given top priority, ensuring that their communication takes precedence over regular network traffic. This ensures that critical information reaches first responders promptly, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions and respond swiftly to evolving situations.

Verizon Frontline: Elevating Public Safety Communications

Verizon Frontline is another exemplary initiative that caters to the unique communication needs of public safety agencies. By leveraging Verizon’s advanced network infrastructure, Frontline offers first responders reliable connectivity and dedicated network resources. This empowers them to share real-time data, videos, and other critical information without the risk of disruption.

Frontline’s emphasis on network resilience is particularly noteworthy. The network incorporates redundancy and backup solutions, ensuring that communication remains intact even in the face of network outages or congestion. This level of reliability is essential for public safety agencies operating in high-pressure scenarios where seamless communication can be a matter of life and death.

T-Mobile Connecting Heroes: Bridging the Gap

T-Mobile’s Connecting Heroes program is yet another testament to the commitment of cellular providers to support public safety efforts. Through this initiative, T-Mobile offers first responders and their agencies access to its powerful 5G network, enabling high-speed data transfer, video streaming, and other bandwidth-intensive applications. This is crucial for tasks such as remote medical consultations, live video feeds from the field, and data-driven decision-making.

In addition to reliable connectivity, Connecting Heroes also provides cost-saving benefits. Public safety agencies can access T-Mobile’s network at discounted rates, allowing them to allocate resources more efficiently and invest in other critical aspects of their operations.

Benefits of Using a Cellular Router for Public Safety

In the realm of public safety, effective communication plays a pivotal role in safeguarding lives and responding swiftly to emergencies. While traditional methods, such as public safety approved cell phones and tablets, have served as communication tools for first responders, the adoption of dedicated cellular routers brings a new dimension of advantages that significantly elevate their capabilities.

The enhanced coverage and extended range provided by cellular routers are particularly valuable in challenging public safety scenarios. Whether in remote locations, disaster sites, or densely populated urban areas, these routers, equipped with high-gain antennas and advanced signal optimization technology, deliver superior connectivity compared to standard public safety approved cell phones and tablets.

Security is paramount in public safety communication, and cellular routers excel in this aspect. With support for virtual private networks (VPNs) and advanced encryption protocols, these routers offer an added layer of protection for sensitive data transmitted over the network. This heightened security ensures the confidentiality of communications among first responders, safeguarding critical information from unauthorized access.

Centralized management capabilities streamline the deployment and maintenance of cellular routers. IT administrators can efficiently monitor and configure multiple devices from a single interface, simplifying updates and reducing the administrative burden on public safety agencies.

Reliability is further reinforced through backup and redundancy mechanisms integrated into cellular routers. These mechanisms automatically switch between different networks, such as cellular and Wi-Fi, in the event of network outages, ensuring continuous connectivity for first responders even in challenging situations.

Durable and rugged design is another hallmark of cellular routers, making them well-suited for the harsh conditions often encountered in public safety operations. Extreme temperatures, dust, moisture, and physical impacts pose no hindrance to the seamless operation of these routers, contributing to their reliability in demanding environments.

Public Safety Approved Devices 

Looking for a solution to use for your public safety needs? Check out the following supported devices from our vendors, and be sure to reach out to the 5Gstore team with any questions! 

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How Verizon Business is Taking 5G Innovations to Phoenix

Verizon, the network America relies on, and Ericsson to demonstrate the latest 5G innovations at the Footprint Center on December 6

BASKING RIDGE, NJ – December 1, 2022 (Verizon Wireless) – Verizon Business will demonstrate the transformative benefits of its business solutions at the next installment of its 5G Innovation Sessions series, occurring at the Footprint Center on December 6. Executives from Verizon, Ericsson, the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury, Ticketmaster, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and the City of Phoenix will demonstrate a range of forward-looking scenarios that leverage the power of 5G and Mobile Edge Computing, including real-time container tracking, collaboration robots, video scene analytics monitoring manufacturing assembly, real-time crowd analytics, interactive cityscapes, and Verizon Frontline’s Tactical Humanitarian Operations Response (THOR) and Mobile Utility Technology Transport (MUTT) vehicles. The program includes dynamic demonstrations by Verizon and Ericsson, speaker segments, and panel discussions.

“5G presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for businesses to supercharge productivity and innovation and gain an edge on the competition,” said TJ Fox, Senior Vice President, Industrial IoT & Automotive, Verizon Business. “The purpose of these sessions is to make sure businesses know how to take advantage of the capabilities that 5G enables, including a broad range of edge-computing and private-network applications that they might not be aware of. It’s all on full display at the 5G Innovation Session in Phoenix.”

The event will be held at the Footprint Center, located at 201 E. Jefferson St. Phoenix, AZ 85004 in Phoenix, featuring several prominent executives including:

  • TJ Fox, Senior Vice President and President, Industrial IoT and Automotive, Verizon Business;
  • Maggie Hallbach, President, Verizon Frontline, Verizon Business;
  • Mike Ruhnke, Vice President, US Corporate Enterprise Accounts, Verizon Business;
  • Danny Johnson, Director, Product Marketing, Verizon Business;
  • Dave Hickey, Vice President, West Business Markets, Verizon Business;
  • Cory Davis, Assistant Vice President, Public Safety, Verizon Frontline, Verizon Business;
  • Mitch Cooper, Vice President of Sales for Verizon, Ericsson North America;
  • Peter Linder, Head of 5G Marketing, Ericsson North America;
  • Dan Costello, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Phoenix Suns;
  • Steve Reese, Chief Information Officer, Phoenix Suns;
  • Mayor Kate Gallego, City of Phoenix;
  • Kara Kalkbrenner, Retired Fire Chief, City of Phoenix;
  • Kurt Schwartzkopf, Executive Vice President, Co-Head of Sports, NBA & NHL Arenas, Ticketmaster;
  • Anil Lalwani, Principal Product Manager, AWS

“We’re living in a remarkable period of innovation in both public safety and government,” said Maggie Hallbach, President of Verizon Frontline and Senior Vice President of Verizon Public Sector. “While in Phoenix, I’m looking forward to discussing and demonstrating just some of the transformative capabilities that our 5G network can unlock for our partners in the public sector, including the more than 30,000 public safety agencies nationwide that trust Verizon Frontline to provide reliable, mission-critical connectivity.”

“The low latency, built-in security, blazing fast speed and unmatched capacity that 5G can enable are bringing new capabilities and use cases to a wide range of industries,” said Mitch Cooper, Vice President of Sales for Verizon at Ericsson North America. “These sessions are a chance for people to see the power of these networks in person, and to imagine the possibilities 5G can bring to their businesses.”

To register for the Phoenix event, use this event link.

Verizon’s Commitment to Phoenix

In 2022, Verizon deployed 5G Ultra Wideband using C-band spectrum in many areas throughout Phoenix, adding coverage and capacity to serve customers throughout the Valley. Additionally, Verizon deployed 5G Ultra Wideband using mmWave spectrum strategically in Phoenix and neighboring cities like Tempe, Chandler and Scottsdale to increase performance and capacity. To manage increases in data usage and provide an enhanced experience at specific venues, Verizon engineers have replaced and enhanced the in-building system at the Phoenix Suns’ Footprint Arena in downtown Phoenix and in several hotels throughout the Valley, and engineers are deploying enhancements at the Phoenix Convention Center. Additionally, to meet the changing patterns of when and how customers use their devices, Verizon engineers in Phoenix have deployed additional 4G carriers to increase capacity in areas throughout the community.

Over the last decade, working through nonprofit partners and a suite of programs and resources, Verizon Innovative Learning has committed $1 billion in market value to support digital equity and inclusion within education for some of the most vulnerable populations across the country. The initiative is celebrating 10 years of providing free technology, internet access and resources to schools and educators across America, including Title I schools.

In Phoenix, over 15,000 students have been reached across 19 schools through the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program. This academic year, the program welcomed over 2,000 new students in the Roosevelt, Pendergast, Cartwright, Alhambra and Issac Elementary School Districts.

Additionally, all educators and students have access to Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, our free next-gen online education portal that provides XR content, professional development, and lesson plans. These efforts are part of Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. Through Citizen Verizon, the company has a goal to provide 10 million youths with digital skills training by 2030.

Verizon realizes the importance of technology in helping small businesses succeed, which is why the company has a goal to support 1M small businesses by 2030. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, a free online curriculum, was designed to give small businesses the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital economy, including access to personalized lesson plans, coaching from experts and networking opportunities with diverse, industry-specific businesses. Since launch in September 2021, more than 1,400 Phoenix-based businesses have been onboarded to the program.

Verizon announced today the availability of Spanish-language course offerings. Hispanic-owned small businesses can now access Spanish curriculum, coaching from experts, community events and personalized mentorship, as well as apply to receive a $10,000 grant as part of a $250,000 fund to help further support minority small businesses as part of Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.

Supporting first responders who serve Phoenix

During 2021, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team deployed multiple times in support of public safety agencies in Arizona to provide mission-critical communications capabilities to the first responders on the front lines of emergency response operations.

Verizon Frontline devices and solutions ranging from mobile hotspots, routers and smart devices to deployable satellite solutions, such as Satellite Picocells on Trailers (SPOTs), were deployed in support of Arizona first responders.

This support has continued during 2022, as the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has already participated in several public safety operations and training events alongside Arizona public safety agencies including deployments in support of wildland firefighters. This ongoing support is provided at no cost to local agencies and represents a continuation of Verizon Frontline’s commitment to investing and innovating in partnership with public safety and government.

Switch to the network Phoenix relies on

Because Verizon is the network Phoenix relies on, we’ve made it easy to switch with our new Welcome Unlimited plan – our best unlimited price ever for unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon’s 5G Nationwide network. Looking to switch the whole family? Welcome Unlimited starts at just $30 per line (Auto Pay & paper-free billing required) per month for four lines (plus taxes and fees, with Auto Pay). You can learn more at verizon.com/plans.

About the 5G Innovation Sessions

Verizon’s 5G Innovation Sessions have so far taken place in Atlanta (July),  Houston (August),  Boston (September), Los Angeles (October) and New York City (November). The events cover a range of themes, including Managed Venue, Fixed Wireless Access, Private 5G, and Mobile Edge Compute.

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How Will 5G Affect the Way We View the Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Verizon Wireless is about to make 5G history at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. They started their journey to provide 5G Ultra Wideband service to 100 million users nationwide and now they’re making even more 5G services available with 5G Home Internet and 5G Business Internet.

The most exciting thing to come from this journey – aside from the additional 5G coverage for us consumers – is the tech they’re incorporating into the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. Verizon will also showcase the speed and power of its 5G network throughout the game broadcast – from the on-field action to immersive mobile access to the halftime show.

This is in fact Verizon’s fifth consecutive year with an in-game advertisement and they’re pulling out all the stops with funny man Jim Carrey reprising his role as “The Cable Guy.”  

The show will be streamed in real-time via several 360-degree 4K cameras placed around the stadium, field, and stage. This will give fans what Verizon is calling a “second screen experience.” Using the Pepsi Halftime mobile app, fans will be able to enter their “Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Ultra Pass Powered by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband” and gain access to “exclusive vantage points not accessible on television.” 

“The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Ultra Pass Powered by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband is so much more than just a second-screen experience, it lets fans feel as though they are on stage with the artists,” said Diego Scotti, CMO, Verizon. “Utilizing 5G Ultra Wideband technology and in close partnership with Pepsi, Roc Nation and the NFL, we are able to enhance one of the most-watched events of the year, in a way that’s never been done before, opening the doors for the future of live events.”

“This year’s Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show performance is already among the most anticipated of all time, so we wanted to provide fans with an unprecedented level of access. Since most people already consume content on their mobile devices while watching the game on TV, we thought it was a great opportunity to create a new, immersive way for fans to experience the performance – as if they were on the stage or in the stadium itself – all from within our Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show mobile app,” said Todd Kaplan, VP of Marketing, Pepsi. 

For fans that will be attending the big game, Verizon is also providing their “5G Multi-View” which will be found within the NFL Ticketholder app. This will however be limited to select Android and iOS 5G phones. It will give those fans the opportunity to engage with up to seven different camera angles, project AR overlays of NFL’s Next Gen Stats for players, and access instant replays. Using Verizon 5G Multi-View means you will never miss a moment of the on-field action – it will be right in the palm of your hand. 

Among the investments Verizon has put into their 5G network, they made a $119 million long term investment throughout Los Angeles and Inglewood, just in preparation for the big game. Of course, that investment on 169 small cells, 4 macro cell sites, and 24 new in-building systems is going to benefit customers living in and traveling to the area for quite some time to come. With regards to the Super Bowl, these solutions will provide reliable, secure service to visitors attending the game, NFL players and staff, first responders and residents of Los Angeles and Inglewood enjoying all the festivities surrounding the big game and beyond.

With all the commotion the Super Bowl brings, we can’t forget about the first responders and workers around the stadium keeping us safe. Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology built for first responders, is working closely with public safety agencies throughout Los Angeles County to help ensure first responders have the reliable connectivity they need to protect fans at the game and those in the local community. The Verizon Command Center will also be operating around the clock to help ensure first responders and fans are able to communicate effectively.

For fans at home, you’ve now got the option of 5G Home Internet, available in select areas. Set up is plug and play and will allow you to connect all your TVs, tablets, phones, gaming consoles, etc, to Verizon’s fast 5G network. 

There’s also 5G Business Internet (available in select areas), which gives business customers a wireless alternative to cable internet. It can support businesses of all sizes and includes self setup or professional installation options, multiple pricing and service options, unlimited data, and a 10-year price guarantee (Price guarantee applies to monthly access fee only. Terms and restrictions apply).

So, whether fans are at the game, at home, or on the go, they can stream, tweet, Snap and share quickly and reliably, using Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network.

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