HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on December 2 participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Redstone Arsenal marking the expansion of the FirstNet network.
“The collaboration of the U.S. Army and FirstNet will provide U.S. Army public safety personnel – firefighters, law enforcement and security – at 72 Army installations including Redstone Arsenal with increased capabilities to communicate as effectively and efficiently as possible, to best protect themselves and those they serve,” said Governor Ivey. “We are honored to have the U.S. Army Materiel Command headquartered in Alabama and proud to celebrate the FirstNet build at Redstone Arsenal.”
Gov. Ivey's office says the new FirstNet cell sites will enhance voice and mobile broadband coverage on the base and give first responders access to an always-on, 24-hours-a-day priority and preemption for voice and data.
“Without communication, agencies cannot achieve the interoperability needed to bring vital resources to bear, especially when lives are at stake and time is of the essence,” said Lt. Gen. Donnie Walker. “FirstNet gives us this capability. Security and safety of everyone who lives and works on this installation is job one. FirstNet is absolutely essential in that priority and pivotal in our efforts to improve the resilience of our installations. It is in a word, a game-changer.”
The new infrastructure network is also expected to improve coverage experiences for all arsenal tenants, according to the governor's office.