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Sierra Wireless, Panasonic Join AT&T's FirstNet Project

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AT&T’s FirstNet has two more partners with the additions of Panasonic System Solution and Sierra Wireless, according to recent individual announcements made by the companies. Each will, of course, bring its own separate solutions to the table. Panasonic is joining the FirstNet Dealer Program through the AT&T Alliance Channel and will center its efforts around the service side of FirstNet. On the other hand, Sierra will be placing its emphasis on the networking side of the equation, offering hardware that first responders will rely on in the field.

That will allow it to offer FirstNet services to public safety customers already using its first responder-geared equipment, as well as bringing in new FirstNet customers. The decision to include the company in the program follows Panasonic’s already widespread placement within that sphere of the communications market. While that means it will be able to promote and establish further customer relations for FirstNet through its current customer base, the status should also be helpful to Panasonic. Alongside FirstNet itself, the company will be able to promote its own products for use with the IoT-like safety service. Chiefly, that includes the Panasonic Toughbook line of devices, which ranges across notebooks, tablets, handhelds, and other device categories. Those products are already a popular device choice for first-responders, according to the company.

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For its part, Sierra Wireless has gained FirstNet Ready designation for a router system based on its AirPrime EM7511 embedded module. That module will also be available FirstNet OEMs. With its new AirLink MG90 High-Performance Multi-Network Vehicle Router, the company will be able to offer always-on connectivity with support for LTE-Advanced Pro. Both will work on both FirstNet Band 14 and the bands of other major U.S. carriers, with 3G fallback and seamless switching. The first of the two new pieces of hardware goes further to supports a battery of connectivity options ranging from dual concurrent Gigabit Wi-Fi and Ethernet to extension options to Land Mobile Radio and satellite. The module will be utilized by first responder equipment manufacturers to enable a workflow at up to 600Mbps. Upgrades will be available to the existing deployments of the prior MG90 units, making it easier for first responders to upgrade. Meanwhile, the new module is available now for OEM testing and integration.