1
First Responders Network Authority
Presentation to the Board
FirstNet Nationwide Network (FNN)
Proposal
F. Craig Farrill
September 25, 2012
2
Agenda
Introduction
FirstNet Roles and Responsibilities
FirstNet Nationwide Network (FNN)
Concept
Nationwide Network Objectives
FNN Architecture
Summary and Next Steps
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FirstNet Charter
Charter
FirstNet is congressionally mandated to
establish a nationwide wireless
broadband network that enables police,
firefighters, emergency medical
technicians, and other first responders to
effectively communicate with one another
during emergencies and to use new
technology to improve response time,
keep communities safe, and save lives.
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FirstNet Assets
Assets
Congressional mandate to establish a
nationwide Public Safety network
2 x 10 MHz of nationwide spectrum
(700 MHz, Band 14)
$2B of current funding; potential for $5B
of additional funding
An experienced Board of Directors
motivated to bring FNN into service
Substantial industry collaboration around
user requirements, interoperability and
technology
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FirstNet Roles and Responsibilities
FirstNet is chartered as the nationwide wireless service
provider to United States first responder community and their
respective public safety organizations.
To fulfill this important mission, the FirstNet roles and
responsibilities include:
Identify, quantify and characterize the needs of first responders
across the US and to serve first responders through a highly-reliable,
integrated, nationwide broadband wireless telecommunications
network.
Work with state, territory and tribal public safety organizations to
define their geographic coverage requirements.
Produce a nationwide network plan, which includes network
architecture, coverage, capacity, services, devices, interconnection,
interworking and coordinated network expansion requirements.
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FirstNet Roles and Responsibilities, p.2
Drive the public Request for Proposal (RFP) process with suppliers
and Mobile Network Operator (MNO) partners to develop and
construct the nationwide network infrastructure.
Aggregate purchasing for devices and services on behalf of the public
safety agencies and other first responder users.
Define and implement the operations, administration and
maintenance (OA&M) plan for the nationwide network that fulfills
federal, state, tribal and local requirements.
Implement the user pricing and billing plan for all network users and
stakeholder organizations.
Manage the overall network operations and define ongoing evolution
of the nationwide network to continuously meet or exceed the needs
of users and stakeholders.
Develop models for public/private collaboration.
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The FirstNet Nationwide Network (FNN) concept leverages the
significant investments and combined efforts of the public sector and
the commercial wireless industry:
Public Safety - integrates inter-agency communications services,
reduces costs, and improves efficiency and response time
Wireless operators - have the opportunity to participate; serve a
critical US nationwide need; and increase their subscribers, usage,
and commercial coverage
Network & handset suppliers - have the opportunity to participate;
serve a critical US nationwide need; and increase their network &
handset product lines, sales volumes and revenues
Application developers - have the opportunity to develop apps
that increase our security and safety across the US; and increase
their product lines, user bases and sales volumes
The FNN Concept
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Network Implementation Options
Network Options Pro Con
1) Build-out a
Standalone Network
Most Control Most expensive to build
and operate
Takes the longest to build
2) Work with Single
Nationwide Wireless
Operator
Simpler business
relationship
No single carrier has
ubiquitous coverage
3) Create a Diverse
Nationwide Network
with Multiple Wireless
Networks and
Systems
Closest to ubiquitous
coverage
Ability to expand
coverage through
selected construction
Higher reliability
More complex business
relationships
New implementation of
existing technologies
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Building Standalone is Unworkable
Inconsistent with the Legislation
High Construction Cost
Higher Annual Operating Costs
Increased Infrastructure Construction
Long Construction Period
Lower Reliability
Limited Manpower
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FNN Leverages Existing Architecture
MNOs have over 285,000
cell sites in place…..
Source: Morgan Stanley
MNO Sites
FNN can also partner with:
• Rural Telecom
• Rural Electric
• Mobile Satellite
• State and Local Networks
The US mobile network operators have invested billions of dollars
over 25+ years in a massive infrastructure that can be leveraged by
FirstNet to serve first responders through the FNN.
Cumulative US wireless network investments exceed $350B
(Source: CTIA annual survey, Oct 11, 2011)
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Multiple Network Diversity Increases Reliability
Mobile Satellite 1
Terrestrial Mobile 4
Terrestrial Mobile 3
Terrestrial Mobile 2
Terrestrial Mobile 1
FirstNet Nationwide Network
Illustrating
Increased
Reliability
Primary
Path
Alternative
Paths
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FNN Meets Key Nationwide Network Objectives
The FNN concept achieves the major aspects of the desired
nationwide wireless network:
Ubiquitous – covers all 50 States and 6 territories, federal,
state, tribal and local government organizations
Reliable – utilizes well-established US wireless network
infrastructure
Redundant – access to 3 to 6 wireless networks
Interoperable – national interoperability with existing and
future mission-critical Public Safety systems
Lowers Cost – leverages existing multi-billion dollar wireless
networks and open-standards devices
Accelerates Availability – commence implementation in
2013 to 2014 timeframe
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FirstNet Architecture: Distributed Core Network
Distributed Core
Network
EPC
Evolved Packet
Core network
SDP
Service Delivery
Platform
FirstNet
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FirstNet Architecture: Distributed Core Network Aspects
Distributed Core
Network
EPC
Evolved Packet
Core network
SDP
Service Delivery
Platform
FirstNet integrates a Distributed Core Network which includes:
EPC – Evolved Packet Core network
(switching, routing, scheduling, user database…)
SDP – Service Delivery Platform
(voice, PTT, messaging, location and video application servers
and data warehouses plus the FirstNet App Store)
The FirstNet Core Network is distributed in multiple secure, hardened
locations across the US for network reliability, resilience and capacity.
FirstNet
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FirstNet Architecture: First Terrestrial Mobile Partner
A RAN
Core Network
Terrestrial Mobile
Operator A
Distributed Core
Network
EPC
Evolved Packet
Core network
SDP
Service Delivery
Platform
RAN = Radio Access Network
FirstNet
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FirstNet Architecture: First Terrestrial Mobile Partner
A RAN
Core Network
Terrestrial Mobile
Operator A
Distributed Core
Network
EPC
Evolved Packet
Core network
SDP
Service Delivery
Platform
RAN = Radio Access Network
FirstNet
Band 14
RAN
FirstNet
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FirstNet Architecture: Two Terrestrial Mobile Partners
A RAN
Core Network
FirstNet
Band 14
RAN
Terrestrial Mobile
Operator A
Distributed Core
Network
EPC
Evolved Packet
Core network
SDP
Service Delivery
Platform
B RAN
Core Network
FirstNet
Band 14
RAN
Terrestrial Mobile
Operator B
FirstNet
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A RAN
Core Network
FirstNet
RAN
B RAN
Core Network
FirstNet
RAN
N RAN
Core Network
FirstNet
RAN
Distributed Core
Network
EPC
Evolved Packet
Core network
SDP
Service Delivery
Platform
Terrestrial Mobile
Operator A
Terrestrial Mobile
Operator B
Terrestrial Mobile
Operator N
FirstNet Architecture: Multiple Terrestrial Mobile Partners
…
FirstNet
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A RAN
Core Network
FirstNet
RAN
Distributed Core
Network
EPC
Evolved Packet
Core network
SDP
Service Delivery
Platform
FirstNet: Future Vision
N RAN
Core Network
FirstNet
RAN
Satellite
Core Network
Satellite
Core Network
Operator A
Terrestrial Mobile Systems Mobile Satellite Systems
Deployable Systems
System On
Wheels
Cell On
Wheels
Operator A Operator N Operator N
…
…
FirstNet
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FNN Solves Several Critical Issues
Instant inter-agency communication and collaboration
Interoperability with existing public safety systems
Group communications on a nationwide scale
Mission-critical reliability through multi-network access
Coverage extension into unserved/underserved rural areas
Lower cost subscriber equipment based on LTE and other
international standards
Deployable infrastructure to address large-scale
emergencies
Ubiquitous US coverage provided through satellite network
integration
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Summary
The FirstNet Nationwide Network offers the most benefits:
High reliability and redundancy through multiple networks:
terrestrial, satellite and deployable micro networks
Extensive mission-critical services required by Public Safety
Accelerated build-out and service availability
Meets Public Safety user requirements for applications,
communications, priority and control
Extends coverage and capacity to unserved and underserved
rural areas
Superior economics from leveraging existing carrier infrastructure
and global economies of scale
Efficiently utilizes FirstNet spectrum
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Next Steps
Communicate the FirstNet Nationwide Network (FNN)
concept to stakeholders for public comment.
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Thank You
