AT&T, the world’s largest telecom company by revenue, has reached a deal to invest about USD 1 billion to improve the United States Commerce Department’s FirstNet, delivering USD 1 billion in cost savings for the program via reduced rates.
Under the 25-year contract, the company got the nod to build the federal emergency cellular network in 2017, years after a federal commission recommended setting up such a system following the 9/11 attacks.
The system, which helps first responders such as medical personnel, firefighters, and police officers communicate vital information on a single network, is used by 31,000 American agencies.
According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the scope of AT&T’s infusion of further capital in FirstNet emerged due to the Donald Trump government’s executive order in early 2025, which asked federal agencies to review all contracts.
“This agreement-in-principle… reflects AT&T’s ongoing dedication to our public-private partnership,” AT&T’s President of Public Sector Wes Anderson said.
This news comes amid the backdrop of AT&T launching OneConnect, which the telecom player describes as the first-ever single subscription for unlimited connectivity. The connectivity provider reportedly combines fast, reliable home internet and wireless together across as many devices as needed, under one subscription tier.
“AT&T OneConnect runs on America’s largest wireless and fibre networks and America’s best and fastest home internet. Combined, it delivers the simple experience customers deserve and defines connectivity of the future,” the company remarked.
Coming back to the FirstNet, reports emerged in January 2026 about AT&T working with AST SpaceMobile to bring satellite connectivity to its network, which could plug gaps in public safety communication.
The direct-to-cellular service, which received FCC (Federal Communications Commission) approval early in 2025, will operate using AST SpaceMobile’s super-large BlueBird satellite constellation, also dubbed the “largest commercial communications array in low Earth orbit [LEO].”
AST SpaceMobile will launch four additional Bluebird satellites in the coming weeks, with plans to deploy a total of 45 to 60 satellites by the end of 2026, with a rollout period of every one to two months.
“The direct-to-cellular service will connect the satellites with AT&T’s terrestrial network via ground stations or gateways. Those gateways, designed by AT&T, will adjust and route the signal over to an AT&T network, establishing the connection. For FirstNet, satellite is not intended to replace the ground-based network. Instead, it is meant to strengthen coverage by adding another layer of connectivity, which will make it easier to serve ‘white space areas’ where FirstNet’s macro network currently cannot reach. The goal is to create resilient and diverse connectivity that can adapt to whatever technology first responders need in the field,” reported RCR Wireless News in January.