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These are the AT&T phones that will help first responders save lives
August 23, 2025
Up until now, only emergency crew that supply phones and plans could take advantage ofAT&T’sapproach to a public safety network. That changes today as the carrier, in partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority),announcedthat any first responder can now take advantage of the network.
Regardless of the tier, every first responder can use the same channels as if they were government or state agency employees. This is particularly a boon for volunteer first responders, who reportedly make up 70 percent of firefighters in the U.S. and might otherwise be cut off from their agency-employed counterparts.
As for which devices are partially or completely compatible with the public safety network, take a look at the list below:
The news should come as very welcome for AT&T and first responders alike. Initial efforts to kick off a public safety network started in 2008 with the 700MHz spectrum auction. The idea was for the FCC to set aside 20MHz of spectrum, which would be used through a partnership with auction bidders.
Eventually, FirstNet Authority formed and was provided with over $6 billion in funding from the FCC’s AWS-3 spectrum auction. AT&Twon the partnership bidin 2017 and garnered support from all 50 U.S. states, five U.S. territories, and Washington D.C. to build a nationwide public safety network. The carrier must maintain the network for at least 25 years.
AT&Tnotedthat first responders currently rely on over 10,000 separate radio networks that oftentimes do not communicate with each other. Today’s news shifted things closer to a future where so many radio networks will cease to be.
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