Anterix Inks Contracts Worth $10.9M, Including First 5x5 MHz Deal
Anterix announced $10.9 million in utility contracts, expanding its 900 MHz private broadband footprint in Texas and the Mountain West. The deal with NorthWestern Energy is the first to secure the newly approved 5×5 MHz spectrum, while Texas‑New Mexico Power will receive an initial 1.4 MHz that will later grow to 3×3 MHz. Both agreements use a two‑phase rollout to accommodate licensing timelines. Utilities plan to leverage the spectrum for real‑time grid monitoring, wildfire detection, and remote line control.
MSI, T-Mobile Bring Satellite-Direct-to-Device Service to Devices
Motorola Solutions and T‑Mobile have integrated T‑Satellite, powered by Starlink, into the APX NEXT radios and SVX body‑worn devices, giving first responders direct‑to‑satellite connectivity. The service, branded T‑Priority, combines 5G, dual‑SIM, Wi‑Fi and traditional LMR to create a multi‑bearer network that...
Fed Agencies See Cyberthreats as Key Barrier to Tech Improvements
Federal leaders are making cybersecurity a top priority as they map out 2026 technology‑modernization plans, according to EY's latest survey. Fifty‑six percent of respondents listed cyber defense among their highest priorities, and roughly one‑third said escalating threats impede modernization goals....
ESN ‘on Track’ for 2030 Completion, UK Official Tells BAPCO
The UK’s Emergency Services Network (ESN) is back on schedule, with data‑only services potentially available to first responders as early as 2024. Full mission‑critical voice capability is slated for the second quarter of 2028, and a mass migration of users,...
Telcos Pick Satellite Sides in Mobile Broadband Space Race
Mobile network operators are rapidly aligning with low‑Earth‑orbit satellite providers to launch direct‑to‑device broadband services. The majority are partnering with SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile or AST SpaceMobile, with Starlink already serving 10 million monthly active users and targeting 25 million by year‑end, while...
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Attackers Hide Infostealer in Copyright-Infringement Notices
Attackers are disguising a fileless phishing campaign as copyright‑infringement notices to deliver PureLog Stealer, a low‑cost infostealer. The operation targets critical sectors—including healthcare, government, hospitality and education—in Germany, Canada, the United States and Australia. Victims receive a seemingly legal PDF...
Japanese Operators Join Forces to Launch Emergency Roaming
Japan’s five major mobile carriers—NTT Docomo, KDDI, SoftBank, Rakuten and Okinawa Cellular—are launching a nationwide emergency roaming service called “Japan Roaming” on April 1, 2026. The service lets subscribers temporarily use another carrier’s 4G LTE network if their primary network is disrupted...
Tait Announces Shared-Channel Version of DMR Tier 3
Tait Communications has unveiled the OpenTrunk shared‑control‑channel solution, a DMR Tier 3‑based trunking system that operates on shared spectrum instead of a dedicated control channel. The offering addresses the scarcity and high cost of licensed spectrum in major U.S. metros such...
Qualcomm Targets Critical Communications in 5G Sidelink Push
Qualcomm announced it will focus its 5G sidelink efforts on the critical‑communications sector, letting public‑safety stakeholders drive development rather than the commercial market. At IWCE 2026, Brittany Haile detailed performance standards agreed with U.S. and European groups and stressed that successful...
GeoComm Launches Service to Accelerate GIS Indoor Mapping
GeoComm unveiled Conversion Services, a new offering that accelerates the creation of indoor GIS maps by more than 50%, turning PDFs and other legacy floor plans into dynamic, data‑rich layers. The service targets 911 centers, public‑safety agencies, and municipal GIS...
L3Harris Unveils P25 Device with 5G, Satellite D2D Functionality
L3Harris introduced the XL‑300P, a redesigned P25 handheld that adds a built‑in LTE‑5G modem and satellite direct‑to‑device (NTN) capability. The device can switch among P25, Wi‑Fi, commercial LTE bands—including Band 106—and T‑Mobile’s Starlink‑backed satellite service, with an AI‑driven selector that chooses...
Motorola Solutions Buys Exacom to Help Fuel AI Intiatives
Motorola Solutions announced the acquisition of Exacom, a cloud‑native voice and multimedia recording specialist for 911 and mission‑critical communications. The purchase is aimed at bolstering Motorola's Assist AI platform by treating audio as a first‑class data source alongside video. Executives...
Catalyst Announces Integration with FirstNet Fusion From AT&T
Interoperability provider Catalyst Communications announced that its Catalyst Dispatch platform will be integrated into AT&T’s FirstNet Fusion MCX ecosystem, the next‑generation public‑safety broadband solution. The integration delivers native 3GPP‑compliant dispatch with built‑in LMR interworking, allowing dispatchers to operate across legacy...
BK Launches Location Offering for Remote Responders
BK Technologies unveiled LocateONE LITE, a low‑cost ($200) application that delivers real‑time user location to Android ATAK maps without relying on cellular or IP networks. The solution extracts GPS coordinates embedded in BK radio push‑to‑talk packets and distributes them via a...
Pryme Partners with Tango Tango to Simplify PTT Operations
Pryme announced a partnership with Tango Tango to supply push‑to‑talk (PTT) buttons in multiple form factors, including Velcro‑mounted and ID‑card‑integrated versions. The collaboration has produced eight distinct button designs, each driven by specific application requirements. Tango Tango executives say the accessories enable...
James Potter of L3Harris Highlights MCX Developments, Adoption
James Potter, director of strategic solutions at L3Harris, highlighted the accelerating adoption of 3GPP‑standard mission‑critical (MCX) services across utilities, public‑safety agencies, and mass‑transit operators. He noted that MCX offers higher data rates and native broadband capabilities, positioning it as a...
Brandon Abley Outlines Developments in 911 Technology, Standards
Brandon Abley, CTO of NENA, detailed the organization’s ongoing standards work, emphasizing the i3 framework that underlies most next‑generation 911 (NG911) deployments. He highlighted emerging capabilities such as AI‑driven call processing and translation identification to improve multilingual emergency response. Abley...
ESChat Announces Interoperable PTT Availability to LA-RICS
ESChat announced its broadband push‑to‑talk platform is now available to users of the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA‑RICS). The integration leverages the Project 25 Inter‑Sub‑System Interface (ISSI) to connect ESChat with the LA‑RICS LMR network, supporting over 800 P25...
3GPP Completes Release 19, While Progress Begins on 6G Work
The 3GPP Technical Specification Group meetings in December 2025 marked the freeze of Release 19, shifting all development effort to Release 20 and the initial study of 6G. The FirstNet Authority participated to ensure public‑safety requirements are embedded, reporting progress on high‑priority...
Cal OES to Seek NG911 Bids Soon, Wants LA-Area PSAPs Done in 2028
California’s Office of Emergency Services will issue a statewide NG911 request for proposals within months, aiming to upgrade all Los Angeles‑area public‑safety answering points (PSAPs) before the 2028 Olympics and complete migration of roughly 450 PSAPs by mid‑2030. The new approach...
Qualcomm Seeks Spectrum for 5G Sidelink to Aid First Responders
Qualcomm has filed a request with the FCC to secure dedicated spectrum for its 5G sidelink technology, aiming to support mission‑critical communications for first responders. The company plans to leverage device‑to‑device links that operate independently of traditional cellular infrastructure, enabling...
FCC Votes to Expand Potential 900 MHz Broadband Usage
The FCC unanimously approved a report and order that expands the 900 MHz band from 6 MHz to a full 10 MHz for private‑wireless broadband use. The new rules let utilities, enterprises and critical‑infrastructure operators acquire the entire 5 × 5 MHz swath (896‑901/935‑940 MHz) while preserving...
New Waymo Robotaxi Now Running Fully Autonomously on U.S. Roads
Waymo announced that its sixth‑generation Waymo Driver is now operating fully autonomously on U.S. public roads, deployed in the new Ojai robotaxi built on Geely’s Zeekr Mix. The fleet, which previously relied on Jaguar I‑Pace conversions, will soon include Hyundai Ioniq 5...
SBC White Paper Proposes New Mode for Devices in School Settings
The Safer Buildings Coalition (SBC) has released a white paper proposing a “School Mode” for smartphones that automatically restricts non‑essential functions when a device enters a school geofence during class hours. The model is opt‑in, gives schools control over policy,...
CISA Seeks Sector Input on Cyber-Incident Reporting Rule
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced a series of town‑hall meetings to gather industry feedback on its pending cyber‑incident reporting rule. A dedicated session for the energy and nuclear sectors is scheduled for March 9. The draft rule would...
Nation-State Hackers Put Defense Industrial Base Under Siege
Nation‑state espionage groups from China, Russia and other actors burned at least two dozen zero‑day vulnerabilities in edge devices to infiltrate defense contractors' networks. The campaign targeted the defense industrial base’s supply chain, exploiting unpatched IoT and edge computing hardware....
John Foley Previews IWCE 2026 In-Building, School-Safety Content
John Foley, Managing Director of the Safer Buildings Coalition, previewed the agenda for IWCE 2026, highlighting a new focus on in‑building wireless technology and school‑safety sessions. The conference will showcase emerging 5G, edge‑computing, and IoT solutions tailored for complex indoor...
Anterix Signs Deal with San Antonio Utility CPS Energy
Anterix Corp announced a partnership with CPS Energy, the nation’s largest community‑owned utility, to deploy its private LTE network across San Antonio. The agreement expands Anterix’s footprint to cover more than 93% of Texas counties, giving the company near‑statewide reach....
House Subcommittee Passes FirstNet Authority Reauthorization Bill
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee approved a draft bill to reauthorize the FirstNet Authority, the federal entity that runs the nation’s dedicated public‑safety broadband network. The legislation mandates that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approve any FirstNet...
Senator Seeks Hearing to Question AT&T, Verizon About Security
Senator Maria Cantwell announced plans to hold a Senate hearing demanding that AT&T and Verizon CEOs explain their network security measures following the recent Salt Typhoon cyberattack, which U.S. officials attribute to Chinese state sponsorship. The probe centers on how the...