June 28, 2018
First Responders, Public Safety
The Internet of Life-Saving Things
You’ve heard of the Internet of Things (IoT), but what about the IoLST? The IoLST is a critical subset of the IoT made up of devices that can help protect community life and property, including assisting public safety personnel in their daily operations. Just as with the IoT, the IoLST is a network of devices that connects to the internet to collect and share data in real time, but its purpose is to improve public safety responses to emergencies.
Getting more connected things into first responders’ hands and systems makes them more efficient and keeps them safer in dangerous situations. Laptops and vehicles have been the foundational tools for connecting first responders with their public safety agencies, but the IoLST promises to also connect their equipment and tools, as well as connect with other agencies and the citizens they interact with. Think about connecting firefighters’ helmets and masks to not only monitor gas levels and temperature but also to download the floorplans of a building and project that on a built-in screen. Imagine emergency medical services (EMS) personnel being able to respond to motor vehicle accidents sooner thanks to sensor data from roads and vehicles and assessing a patient using a body-worn camera to collect vital signs and communicate results to the hospital in real-time. These are just two small examples — the potential devices and applications vast. From the wearables and tools on a first responder, to city and building CCTV security cameras, to health and fitness wearables for consumers, now is the time for device makers targeting U.S. markets to develop their solutions for the FirstNet public safety network.
FirstNet is the nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to America’s first responders. Being built with AT&T, in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), FirstNet is bringing public safety agencies a much-needed technology upgrade to help them connect to the critical information they need.
The IoLST has the capability to collect and share useful data that is critical to public safety, but these devices need to have reliable and secure connectivity to enable access to actionable data in an emergency. Networks such as FirstNet with priority and preemption for first responder data at all times will enable IoLST to proliferate and encourage further innovation in public safety.
What module features are unique to the FirstNet network?
The EM7511 has been approved by AT&T and is the first embedded module available for the FirstNet network. This means that the LTE-Advanced Pro module supports AT&T’s First Priority, including priority and pre-emption for first responders, as well as the 700MHz Band 14 spectrum, which is dedicated for public safety. Before being certified and approved for use on FirstNet, devices are subject to hundreds of tests that cover a number of aspects from security and durability to network impacts, ensuring they will stand up to the demands of first responders.
Public safety is in our DNA
Sierra Wireless has been enabling device makers for more than 20 years, bringing the latest cellular technologies from CDPD, 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE into 5G in the future. The new EM7511 embedded module provides 4G LTE Advanced Pro Cat-12 coverage, including FirstNet LTE Band 14, with 3G fallback and integrated GNSS, delivering up to 600Mbps downlink speed and 150Mbps uplink speed. Our embedded modules enable our networking, mobile computing, healthcare, medical and security equipment customers to deliver IoLST solutions for public safety in the U.S. today and globally as more first responder initiatives roll out. Start with Sierra to find out more about our solutions for public safety and FirstNet.
Related Blogs:
Sign up for blog updates
Get innovation delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our blog and stay on top of the very latest from Semtech (formerly Sierra Wireless).