Internet of things company Telit is ramping up its support of the FirstNet IoT ecosystem, with the launch of its first embedded modules with Band 14 support for LTE Cat 1 and Cat 4 broadband connectivity.
The Telit LE910C1-NF provides LTE Cat 1 download speeds (up to 10 Mbps download speed and 5 Mbps upload) and is aimed at connecting devices such as mobile routers and gateways, trackers, and navigation solutions.
The Telit LE910C4-NF provides Category 4 broadband speeds (150 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload) for high-speed mobile broadband routers, gateways and video streaming.
Ken Bednasz, VP of application engineering at Telit, discussed Telit’s support of the FirstNet ecosystem in a recent interview.
Bednasz said that Telit is “all-in and fully committed” to supporting the FirstNet network for first responders around the country, which is being built out and managed by AT&T for the First Responders Network Authority. FirstNet provides features including network priority access during times of congestion, as well as the ability to pre-empt commercial use to ensure that first responders have reliable voice and data communications at all times as they do their work. Telit has a current roster of four FirstNet-capable solutions, including the two new embedded modules.
Those new modules include Band 14 support as well as other AT&T bands and offer optional support for GPS. That range of connectivity options enables integrators and designers to design a wide variety of connected, rugged end-user devices for FirstNet. The completed devices will have to go through FirstNet device approvals before being allowed on the network.
“FirstNet devices go through extensive review, so first responders can be confident that they meet our highest standards for reliability, security and performance,” said Bob Sloan, COO, AT&T, FirstNet Program. “Telit is already a trusted provider of public safety-focused solutions, and the LE910C1-NF and LE910C4-NF modules expand on their commitment to first responders and those who support them.”
Because the form factors are designed in line with Telit’s existing IoT portfolio and leverage standards-based LTE, Bednasz noted, the FirstNet-compatible modules can be used globally to power public safety devices on other LTE networks – bringing FirstNet into a global public safety ecosystem.
“The nice thing about what Telit is doing is, we’re taking our existing products with our existing ecosystem and … we’re just enabling existing families of products with FirstNet and public safety capabilities,” said Bednasz.
“We really see public safety evolving the IoT ecosystem,” he added, pointing to IoT-enabled examples of use cases such as sensors for lighting, sound detection and even air quality, in case of scenarios such as chemical releases. “The whole concept with FirstNet and public safety is to be more proactive than reactive.”
Watch the full interview with Bednasz below:
