FirstNet seeing 'multiple different' possible carrier partners, won't delay RFP deadline anymore

FirstNet President T.J. Kennedy said that the organization is seeing interest from "multiple different partners" for its network partner request for proposal, which is why FirstNet has extended the deadline for the RFP twice now. However, he said that the industry shouldn't expect another delay to the RFP. "I wouldn't necessarily expect further extensions going forward," Kennedy said here during a keynote presentation at the Mobile Carriers Show.

The event, from the Competitive Carriers Association, brings together the nation's smaller and rural wireless carriers, some of which may well be bidding on FirstNet's RFP. Kennedy added that FirstNet's rollout schedule is "extremely aggressive." The association plans to move forward quickly to reach its goal of beginning initial deployment of a nationwide LTE network for public safety starting around August of 2018. FirstNet expects to name the winner or winners of its network partnership RFP by November 2016. "We believe it's absolutely necessary that we move in a rapid fashion," Kennedy said.