Etherstack announces it has been selected by AT&T to be the carrier’s supplier of 3GPP-standard-compliant Interworking Function (IWF) technology to support interoperable communications between land-mobile-radio (LMR) a new mission-critical solution for FirstNet, Built with AT&T
By Donny Jackson, Editor, Urgent Communications
Etherstack this week announced that it has been selected by AT&T to be the carrier’s supplier of 3GPP-standard-compliant Interworking Function (IWF) technology to support interoperable communications between land-mobile-radio (LMR) a new mission-critical solution for FirstNet, Built with AT&T.
AT&T—the carrier contracted to build and operate the FirstNet nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) since 2017—made the selection after conducting successful beta tests of Etherstack’s LMR IWF for the past 12 months, according to a Etherstack press release. These tests included completing the “first production interoperable call between LMR and the FirstNet mission-critical solution utilizing IWF,” which happened last year in Fairfax County, Va., the press release states.
Neither the FirstNet mission-critical solution that was tested in Fairfax County nor the new mission-critical for FirstNet was identified in the Etherstack press release.
However, the announcement released on Monday provided some insights about the beta tests, such as the fact that the Etherstack LMR IWF solution was connected to digital LMR systems in multiple states and that the narrowband network included “those deployed by the largest LMR equipment manufacturers.” In addition, the IWF functionality was trialed by first responders “to assess audio quality, security and essential service types like emergency calls and those made under duress,” according to the Etherstack press release.
AT&T’s area vice president for FirstNet and NextGen 9-1-1 products, Matt Walsh said he believes Etherstack’s IWF capabilities can help public-safety users leverage the FirstNet system more effectively while conducting emergency-response efforts.
“As public safety’s partner, we are always looking for the best collaborators to innovate for first responders,” Walsh said in a prepared statement. “We strive to create better platforms and evolve with the needs of public safety. Etherstack’s proven record will help us give America’s public-safety community the flexibility to adapt to whatever emergency they might face.”
Etherstack CEO David Deacon expressed a similar sentiment about working with AT&T’s FirstNet team to enhance first-responder communications.
“FirstNet, Built with AT&T is an innovator of mission-critical communications that is dedicated to public safety,” Deacon said in a prepared statement. “The expansive network build, integration with other vendors, and ease of end-agency provisioning is industry-leading. We are so pleased to work alongside AT&T on what is truly an industry-changing journey.”
AT&T first announced the availability of a mission-critical-push-to-talk (MCPTT) offering—known as FirstNet PTT—in 2020. Public-safety officials who trialed FirstNet PTT—an MCPTT solution developed by Samsung—were outspoken in their support of the technology’s clear audio quality and low latency. But the offering was not adopted widely, with many agencies citing the lack of easy interoperability between the MCPTT service and existing LMR systems used by most first-response organization.
IWF is a standard created by 3GPP—the standards body that oversees LTE 4G and 5G technology development—to enable interoperable communications between commercial wireless systems and private LMR networks.
