AT&T Exec, FirstNet Board Member Offer Subscriber Number Insights

Wednesday, May 30, 2018 | Comments

Those 600 agencies are spread across 48 states, Stephens said. He did not specify which two states do not have any subscribers yet.

During a meeting of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), FirstNet Board Member said that there are about 50,000 FirstNet service subscribers so far. McGinnis called that number a “drop in the bucket” but said that it was a good start and that many full organizations have signed onto the service.

McGinnis encouraged public-safety organizations to be patient as AT&T builds out the band 14 network and improves its coverage and offering.

“Be patient, don’t sign up where there is no coverage,” he said. “Coverage will be coming soon.”

Stephens said that AT&T expects the public-safety band 14 network to touch more than 10,000 towers around the country by the end of the year. As part of its contract with FirstNet, AT&T is required to have 31 percent of the overall buildout completed by first quarter of 2019. Stephens said that he expects AT&T will not only meet that benchmark but likely exceed it.

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