First responders – fire, police, emergency medical services - have for years relied on dedicated communications during emergencies using land mobile radios, those walkie talkie devices they all wear.

These narrowband voice communications systems now work together with broadband 4G LTE systems from FirstNet for a whole new way for first responders to communicate via voice, data, and video.

New technologies are providing first responders with enhanced capabilities for communicating both outdoors and inside buildings. Next generation 9-1-1 dispatch architecture is being launched to support these broadband advancements, and whether spectrum should be dedicated to public safety applications or shared with the mobile network operators is debated at many government levels.

Andy Seybold, an authority on public safety communications, shares his insights on these points and more in conversation with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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