That makes sense, given the ambitious nature of the project: FirstNet is the United States’ big attempt at creating a nationwide, interoperable network for public safety communications, and it’s been in the making since the turn of the millennium.
According to newly-released numbers from AT&T, the company that won the contract to build out FirstNet, last year the network saw double-digit growth in agencies supported and subscribers — among other things.
The number of agencies supported is not reflective of the number of jurisdictions using FirstNet; if a police department and a fire department in the same city are supported, then AT&T would count them as two for the purposes of this data.
FirstNet is also growing in other areas. Last year, it added about 110 devices, 60 applications and about 100,000 square miles of coverage.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct a calculation error in FirstNet's percentage growth.