Just as a national effort has begun rolling out for wireless broadband networks for use by first responders, Verizon Communications [VZ] plans to build and operate its own private network core dedicated to public safety communications, reassuring its existing customers of its commitment to this space and ensuring the landscape remains competitive.
Verizon says its new public safety network, won’t require states to drop out of the fledging First Responder Network Authority, better known as FirstNet, doesn’t require federal funds that are being used for FirstNet and doesn’t require states to fund the network deployments.
The communications provider says its network commitment is a response to requests from public safety agencies and that Verizon will do what it has to do to remain competitive in the public safety arena.
“We’re making the investments necessary to give public safety access to the best possible network coverage, reliability and capability, when and where they need it,” says Michael Maiorana, senior vice president for Public Sector at Verizon. “Our public safety network will provide a comprehensive and cost-effective solution for public safety, and we’ll continue working to offer first responders the network reliability and access to innovative services they need to keep our communities safe.”
In an interview with HSR, Maiorana says “We have earned their business over the years and we want to continue to earn their business and we believe that by enhancing our current offerings with the priority, preemption, the new data plan, the private core network dedicated to public safety, we are telling our customers that we value their business and we’re going to make the necessary investment to continue to earn their business well into the future.”
Maiorana says Verizon already has a “significant share” of customers in the public safety communications market that the company “intends to keep and meet their needs” and will work to expand its market share.
In March, the U.S. Department of Commerce and FirstNet selected AT&T Inc. [T] for the $46.5 billion project to build a nationwide seamless, wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. AT&T is set to receive success-based payments of $6.5 billion over the next five years to build out the network while spending $40 billion over 25 years to build, deploy, operate and maintain the network.
Verizon isn’t disclosing the amount of any new investments in its dedicated public safety private core although Maiorana highlights that the company has spent $180 billion since 2000 on its overall wireless networks.
In an Aug. 16 blog post accompanying Verizon’s network announcement, Maiorana says Verizon didn’t bid on the FirstNet deal—AT&T was the only bidder—“because it was essentially structured as a spectrum deal. We were not interested in commercializing FirstNet’s spectrum and we didn’t need extra network spectrum to build out our nationwide network.”
FirstNet, an independent authority within the Commerce Department, was established in response to a 9/11 Commission recommendation for more radio spectrum for public safety.
Since the FirstNet contract award in late March, 14 states and one U.S. territory have opted-in to FirstNet at no cost. However, just because a state opts-in t FirstNet doesn’t mean state and local agencies necessarily have to use AT&T as their wireless provider.
Verizon says it will invest in new 4G LTE voice communications to complement existing services such as Push-to-Talk Plus, which already includes interoperability with existing land mobile radio networks. Maiorana says Verizon also already offers priority services to its first responder customers and will offer preemption services by the end of this year. Preemption refers to when first responder traffic has priority and regular customers get dropped briefly if the network is congested.