AT&T, L3Harris Connect Florida SLERS, FirstNet Networks

“This partnership with the state of Florida and FirstNet provides Florida’s first responders with the most technologically advanced communications system available,” said Nino DiCosmo, president, public safety and professional communications, L3Harris. “This first-of-its-kind deployment of FirstNet will help connect first responders across the state with reliable, modern communications tools needed to stay mission ready and perform at their best.”

Florida emergency personnel will now have interoperable access to both P25 LMR and LTE-based FirstNet technologies. Additionally, Florida public-safety personnel can now complement mission-critical agency communications; free-up LMR capacity by moving non-essential communications to FirstNet; and allow team members who travel outside the SLERS footprint to stay connected across the country.

Portable and mobile radios that L3Harris delivered to SLERS users at the end of the fourth quarter of 2021 had FirstNet subscriber identity modules (SIM) built in that allow access to the FirstNet network, Keith Gaston, account management lead for L3Harris said. “As America’s public-safety partner, FirstNet is helping solve long-standing communications challenges,” said Jason Porter, President, Public Sector and FirstNet, AT&T. “This initiative provides Florida’s first responders with mission-trusted interoperable communications and furthers their situational awareness with rich information from diverse sources. And, while commercial networks remain available to public safety, we continue to see FirstNet grow, both in Florida and across the country, because it offers distinct advantages from those commercial offerings.”

L3Harris has managed and operated SLERS for the last 20 years. Last year, the Florida legislature approved and funded a $451 million contract renewal for the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) to purchase new L3Harris radios and upgrade its system to P25 Phase 2 technology.

“FirstNet was built for first responders by first responders,” said Jeremy Zollo, chief market engagement officer, First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority). “The FirstNet Authority worked hand-in hand with Florida’s first responders to build a resilient network designed to help them save lives and protect communities.”

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