The Public Safety community has discussed the potential for First Responders to discover a world of transformation through connected sensors and data with the deployment of a dedicated public safety network. The transformation starts with the deployment of a purpose build public safety network that meets public agencies demand for secure data, video and voice. Once the network is established, industry will introduce an open eco-system of devices, end points and capabilities that run on the network. Finally unique visualization and collaboration applications that reduce clutter and manage the “data fog” will begin to emerge. This briefing discuses how this transformation is taking place today with real world LTE public safety deployments in Adams County and Vail Colorado and the state of New Mexico.

As wireless carriers build 4G LTE networks and begin to plan for 5G deployment, the time is right to begin thinking about ways to leverage what is going on in evolving commercial markets for the benefit of public safety. From looking at ways to allow a device to operate on multiple networks to integrating the Internet of Things into public safety operations to provide for better situational awareness, we find ourselves at the nexus of communication technologies that promises cutting edge capabilities for public safety communications. This session will focus on some of the technologies that hold the most potential for first responders and those that support them.

Across the country and around the world, state and county governments are facing the need to update their emergency communications technology to meet new RF standards for higher spectrum efficiency, and to prepare first responders for new and emerging threats. A lot of things are changing, pointing to a need for newer, more flexible, more capable, and tougher equipment – but it also leaves an unclear path forward. In this presentation, Harris’ Mark Tesh will explain how public safety jurisdictions can mitigate the uncertainties involved in purchasing radio equipment as technology and regulations continue to evolve by better understanding the future of emergency communications, and anticipating the requirements of tomorrow.

The Internet of Public Safety Things (IoPSTtm) is an exciting emerging technology that has the potential for improving public safety and saving lives. Example architectures are discussed for wearable and non-wearable systems. Real-world results are described for both commercial LTE and Band14 FirstNet tests, and live demonstrations are presented.

The National Public Safety Broadband Network (FirstNet), a program funded by $7 billion, is full speed ahead and encompasses one of the largest projects ever under-taken for the development of a dedicated broadband network for first responders. The advantages of this secure dedicated network are numerous including assured quality of service, preemption, public safety applications & services, situational awareness, and local control. The challenges are many and varied from both physical and logical security controls with threats increasing every day. This is a very new and very challenging world but working together and sharing both best actionable practices, situational awareness, as well as cyber-security information in real-time across the community is one critical step customers and industry can take together to make the transition to this and future next-generation networks in a way that will noticeably impact public safety in a significantly positive way.