AT&T is making the case that FirstNet is no longer just about giving first responders a reliable line of communication. In its latest update, the company says the network is now supporting a much bigger mix of connected tools, including wearables, body cameras, drones, vehicle trackers, medical devices, and environmental sensors that help emergency teams get more information while a situation is still unfolding.
According to AT&T, this shift is part of what it calls the “connected responder” era. The company says more than 75 public safety tech companies work with its FirstNet IoT Embedded Program, and that there are now more than 2 million connected devices on FirstNet. The idea is simple: the more useful information responders can get in real time, the better they can react when every second matters.
AT&T lays out a full emergency scenario to show how that works. A 9-1-1 center using NextGen 9-1-1 tools like AT&T ESInet could receive photos, videos, and automatic crash alerts as a major traffic accident is reported. At the same time, connected vehicle trackers could help send the nearest police units to the scene faster. Once responders arrive, body cameras, thermal imaging tools, chemical and heat sensors, and health-monitoring wearables can help teams gather evidence, understand risks, and keep track of responder safety.
The company also points to newer gear such as unmanned air systems from Archer FRS, which AT&T says can help deliver life-saving medical equipment directly to an emergency scene. On the medical side, paramedics can use connected equipment like AEDs, portable ultrasounds, CT scanners, and glucometers to send patient data to hospitals before arrival, giving emergency rooms more time to get ready.
AT&T’s message here is clear: FirstNet is becoming the backbone for a much wider public safety tech ecosystem. The company also says it is building that future around FirstNet Fusion, a mission-critical push-to-talk platform designed to help first responders communicate across different devices, radio systems, and even carriers, while also opening the door to deeper ties with tools like Axon Fusus for situational awareness data.
