U.S. Virgin Islands Becomes First Territory to Join FirstNet

By The Editors of AGL

August 10, 2017

The U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp has announced his decision to accept the FirstNet and AT&T plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the territory’s public safety community, helping first responders save lives and protect communities. This makes the U.S. Virgin Islands the first U.S. territory to “opt-in” to the FirstNet network.

AT&T, in a public-private partnership with FirstNet, will build, operate and maintain a highly secure wireless broadband communications network for the Virgin Islands’ public safety community for the next 25 years.

The decision enables FirstNet and AT&T to begin creating an entirely new wireless ecosystem for public safety communications, connecting first responder subscribers responding to emergencies and supporting large events, like the Annual Carnival Festivals on St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas.

Virgin Islands’ first responder subscribers will have immediate access to quality of service and priority to voice and data across the existing nationwide AT&T LTE network.

Preemption for primary users over the AT&T LTE network is expected by year-end. This means fire, police, EMS and other public safety workers will have dedicated access to the network.