en.Wedoany.com Reported - AT&T's FirstNet has activated the first nationwide dedicated 5G Standalone (5G SA) core for U.S. public safety users, with first responders now connected to a public safety network infrastructure that is independent of the commercial network.
Built with direct feedback from the public safety community, this dedicated core is designed to meet the unique operational and technical needs of first responders. It is physically isolated from AT&T's commercial network core, delivering enhanced security, reliability, and operational control for public safety communications, while laying the groundwork for future feature development. This architecture will help optimize network performance for applications such as body-worn cameras, mission-critical communications, and real-time video.
Serving as the "brain and nervous system" of the FirstNet network, the dedicated FirstNet core separates public safety traffic from commercial traffic. Its architecture incorporates multiple geographically distributed core sites to provide additional redundancy, thereby enhancing performance and resilience. As the latest upgrade to the FirstNet core, this architecture also supports faster upload speeds and greater responsiveness to meet the growing demands of the connected technologies public safety relies on every day.
In terms of security, the core employs security measures that exceed commercial network standards, accessible only through FirstNet SIM cards to protect user information from potential attacks. These SIM cards are monitored around the clock by a dedicated security operations center to help identify and mitigate potential threats.
Public safety agencies increasingly rely on mission-critical communications, real-time video, and other situational awareness tools, and different applications have varying network performance requirements, making the traditional "one-size-fits-all" connectivity approach no longer suitable. The FirstNet 5G SA core provides the foundation for such customized network experiences, with AT&T planning to optimize network performance for different public safety applications and use cases through its "Adaptive Mission Performance" feature. Under this approach, public safety users are not merely accessing a slice of the commercial network; rather, the entire network core is tailored to their connectivity needs.
FirstNet users have begun migrating to the nationwide dedicated FirstNet 5G SA core at no additional cost. AT&T stated that the "Adaptive Mission Performance" feature will be rolled out gradually as more users migrate to the new core. Scott Agnew, President of AT&T FirstNet, noted that first responders need a network built around their mission, not one designed for everyday consumer use, and this dedicated core launch provides a dedicated foundation for their mission, operational, and technical needs. Brent Iadarola, Research Vice President at Frost & Sullivan, stated that the launch of the dedicated 5G standalone core strengthens AT&T's position in public safety communications, and this architecture will provide a more robust foundation for next-generation communications and life-saving applications.
