AT&T announced it’s rolling out new tools at the first anniversary of FirstNet that will continue to help FirstNet subscribers take advantage of the specialized experience for first responders.
- FirstNet Single Sign-On – First responders working a crime scene, fire or incident shouldn’t need to spend precious seconds repeatedly entering complex password to get and maintain application access. FirstNet Single Sign-On solves for that. This new solution will give FirstNet subscribers easy access to participating applications and other mobile destinations while maintaining a highly secure environment without the need to constantly re-authenticate. It provides both user convenience and quick access in critical scenarios for first responders.
- Encrypted Assets – AT&T is further fortifying the FirstNet-dedicated Satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs). As FirstNet subscribers connect to these assets, their communications are encrypted across satellite links. This creates an even more secure network environment for Public Safety. The FirstNet SatCOLTs are part of the nationwide fleet of 72 dedicated deployable network assets available 24/7 at the request of FirstNet subscribers and at no additional charge.
- FirstNet Assist – Available in the coming months, this app will take FirstNet customer care mobile. FirstNet Assist will also allow first responders that have been assigned a lower level of priority or FirstNet users providing essential services to support Public Safety – like utilities or transportation – to request priority uplift from the field. Once approved by the command post manager, this will enable these users to access higher priority levels. The ability to request priority uplift will be available upon entering a 50-mile radius of an emergency, making it even easier for command post managers to quickly uplift those critical to a response.
- Increased Network Visibility – AT&T is giving FirstNet subscribers a level of network visibility unlike anything they’ve ever experienced. New enhancements to the Local Control Portal’s Network Status Map will help public safety administrators better understand what’s going on with the network at any given time. Plus, in alignment with data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), agency administrators can now overlay the status of ongoing flood and fire borders in relation to their jurisdiction for added situational awareness.
The company is also rolling out two new tools for developers to help foster continued innovation for Public Safety across a broad ecosystem of innovators and creators:
- FirstNet Single Sign-On Software Development Kit (SDK) – Developers creating public safety solutions can integrate FirstNet Single Sign-On directly into their apps. The new SDK can be found on the FirstNet Developer Portal.
- FirstNet App Priority™ Application Programming Interface (API) – AT&T is extending First Priority™ service to automatically apply to critical public safety apps sourced from the FirstNet App Catalog. Developers must request permission to use the App Priority™ API to build in the highest level of priority access to the use of their app – which will also need to be submitted for review and approval. App Priority™ is especially beneficial during mutual-aid situations where multiple first responders and support organizations are involved and relying on intelligence from key apps as part of their complex response. This can also be found on the FirstNet Developer Portal.
