Modern public safety demands reliable, secure and resilient connectivity.
In a recent Police1 webinar sponsored by Semtech, Craig Martinez from T-Mobile and Tim Adams from Semtech explored how next-generation 5G and intelligent networking are transforming communications for first responders.
5G Standalone: Built for Mission-Critical Communications
T-Mobile’s Craig Martinez, a 23-year law enforcement veteran, shared how T-Priority—the nation’s first 5G standalone network slice for first responders—keeps mission-critical data flowing when every second counts.
Unlike older 4G systems, T-Priority’s standalone 5G core delivers faster speeds, lower latency and dedicated capacity so emergency crews can stay connected even during major incidents or network congestion.
Resilience Beyond the Cell Tower
Martinez also previewed T-Mobile’s new satellite connectivity, developed with SpaceX’s Starlink, extending communication to the most remote or disaster-impacted regions. This innovation ensures no responder is left without coverage—whether in mountain canyons or rural command zones.
Rugged, Reliable 5G Devices for the Field
Tim Adams, senior product manager at Semtech, highlighted how AirLink® XR Series routers deliver the durability and security public safety agencies depend on. Built to military and IP64 standards, these routers withstand extreme temperatures, shock and voltage fluctuations—ensuring always-on performance in demanding fleet environments.
Adams also emphasized the importance of end-to-end security for mission-critical communications, including advanced VPN capabilities, firewall protection and secure remote management to protect sensitive public safety data.
The session further detailed Semtech’s intelligent failover technology, which keeps vehicles connected by automatically switching between networks, Wi-Fi or satellite—maintaining seamless coverage and secure data transfer even in the harshest conditions.
Future-Ready, Field-Proven
The session wrapped up with an engaging Q&A that tackled some of the most common concerns agencies face when modernizing their fleets.
Attendees asked about compliance standards—specifically, how to ensure 5G deployments meet public safety security requirements and align with existing certification frameworks. We explained how standards such as T-Priority certification and NDAA can guide device validation, giving agencies a clear path to compliant, secure upgrades.
Another hot topic was when to move from 4G to 5G. The panel shared that timing depends on operational needs and regional network readiness, but stressed that hybrid 4G/5G routers are already helping agencies prepare today without disrupting current systems.
For the full discussion—and to hear directly from the experts about 5G rollout strategies, security best practices and real-world deployment lessons, watch the full on-demand webinar: Connect and protect: Advanced 5G solutions for an evolving threat landscape.
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