Locations for the new Delaware sites include Kent Count, New Castle County and Sussex County, all of which were identified as priority areas by local public safety organisations.
Speaking of the project, a spokesperson for the FirstNet Authority said: “This new infrastructure is a part of [an] expansion taking place across the state, bringing increased coverage, capacity and capabilities for public safety.
“Building upon AT&T’s current and planned investments in Delaware we’re actively extending the reach of FirstNet to give large and small agencies the reliable, unthrottled connectivity and modern communications tools they need.”
President of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association Jay Jones said: “As a third-generation firefighter, this technology and service brings us to a whole new level of fire suppression. We’ve been able to get reliable coverage in areas where we’ve previously struggled.”
In other FirstNet-related news, its board has approved the first set of investments for enhancing the network, with $200 million available “to set FirstNet on the path to 5G,” and expand its fleet of deployable assets.
Speaking of the investment, executive director Ed Parkinson said: “This is a significant milestone for the FirstNet Authority’s strategic investment program, which is driven by our partners in public safety.
“We appreciate their continued support as we work with them to identify investment opportunities for FirstNet. This is just the beginning and we look forward to the work ahead to achieve the full potential of this network.”
Editorial contact
Philip Mason
Editor, Critical Communications Portfolio
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Philip.mason@markallengroup.com