FirstNet expands coverage for America’s first responders, surpasses 7 million connections

March 31, 2025

FirstNet®, Built with AT&T – the only 5G network built with and for America’s first responders – is now bringing new multi-layered coverage and unprecedented network insight to more than 7 million public safety connections.¹

FirstNet already gives responders coverage across the nation’s largest footprint and we have added 20,000 square miles of terrestrial coverage in the last year – more than twice the size of New Jersey – growing public safety's network to more than 2.99 million square miles across urban, suburban, rural, territory and tribal areas. That’s 250,000 square miles more than competing wireless networks on average. This gives first responders the critical connectivity they need, where they need it.

“When our officers were deployed to impacted areas of North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, FirstNet was there for us,” said Chief Jeffrey Ackerman, Town of Duck Police Department. “With reliable connectivity on FirstNet, we were able to communicate with our team and other agencies while in remote areas. From search and rescue to welfare checks and even connecting an isolated resident to her husband, FirstNet helped us better serve the local community.”

Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. That’s why, in partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), we have created an expansive network that supplements macro coverage with layers of in-building and on-the-go solutions to deliver dedicated connectivity for public safety and the essential services they rely on, like utilities and hospitals. And no matter how first responders are connected to the FirstNet network, they always have priority and preemption across 5G, LTE and Band 14.

We’re also making significant advancements with AST SpaceMobile to deliver space-based cellular broadband connectivity that supports features first responders need. We have already successfully tested mission-critical capabilities, such as push-to-talk services because even in the most hard-to-reach areas public safety needs more than simple text messaging.

Indoor locations like basements, stairwells and garages are some of the most difficult places to reliably connect. As the only network able to offer public safety 6x the signal power of other carriers, we have expanded our portfolio of FirstNet MegaRange coverage solutions with the new Nextivity SHIELD MegaFi 2 router.  Available in fixed, portable and in-vehicle form factors, these routers are future proof, 5G-enabled high-power user equipment (HPUE) that provide better building penetration, broader coverage and faster uplink.

Thousands of first responder agencies across the country have also received free Cell Booster Pros as part of the FirstNet Authority’s ongoing investments. And we continue to deploy more. There are now more than 11,000 of these miniature cell sites in public safety buildings across the country. That’s like connecting more than 60 Empire State Buildings.

Unprecedented insight into public safety’s network

Public safety deserves unprecedented visibility into FirstNet, which is their network. With the enhanced Network Status Map on FirstNet Central – an industry first – users can now quickly access detailed and current information on the state of the network and key applications. This includes maintenance and restoration updates and the location of on-air portable cell sites from the dedicated FirstNet fleet. Users can see this information at the state, county and hyper-local levels, as well as subscribe to automated notifications – all of which helps them stay prepared and operate more seamlessly.

“As public safety’s one and only network – not a commercial slice of a network built for the general population – our unwavering commitment to reliable and resilient communications is a part of our FirstNet promise and foundational to everything we do,” said Scott Agnew, President – FirstNet, AT&T. “The breadth of FirstNet coverage, combined with our unparalleled network visibility, gives first responders the capabilities they need to keep our communities safer. Whether a first responder is in a remote area after disasters like Hurricane Helene or in the middle of New York City, FirstNet gives them the peace of mind that they will be connected.”

^{¹As of March 31, 2025}

^{²Requires a FirstNet Unlimited smartphone plan line of service (min $42.99/mo.) and an AT&T Unlimited plan line of service (min. $75.99/mo. before discounts). AT&T may slow data speeds on consumer lines if the AT&T network is busy.}