Actually not correct. The original purpose for FirstNet was to become the system for public safety nationwide, voice, data, you name it.
However, it took so long for FirstNet to get rolled out that many agencies went ahead and purchased new LMR systems; in addition to that some critical operational pieces needed to make LTE a viable mission-critical voice option still aren't perfected.
FirstNet was never intended to replace standard LMR radios. Even FirstNet will tell you that. The MCPTT they talk about still hasn't taken off, and inherent network and LTE delays will never let it work as well as standard LMR.
On top of that, you need to throw in a healthy dose of skepticism from local and state agencies regarding:
1. Loss of control of their radio system.
Yep, another good reason to stick with traditional LMR, and why most are.
2. Potentially high monthly per-device costs simply to operate on FirstNet (and no say in setting those prices).
Under state contracts, I haven't found that to be the case. Pricing is fixed and available to all agencies. If some agency decides to ignore available contract pricing, that's their own fault.
My Sonim XP8 cost a grand total of $0.99
I have unlimited everything, and it's running $44.99/month. Better than what I was getting before FirstNet.
3. FirstNet is a monopoly.
Yes, sort of. AT&T is operating it for the FirstNet Authority. The FirstNet Authority still maintains control over most of it, but AT&T does absolutely have their fingers in it.
www.firstnet.gov
4. Questionable coverage and capacity in many areas of the US.
I haven't had an issue with capacity, in fact, it's been better than consumer AT&T.
Coverage, yeah, that's an issue. AT&T coverage is pretty sucky when you get out of the cities and away from major highways. Verizon is better. But, remember, Verizon had the opportunity to bid on the FirstNet contract and chose not to.
5. Justifiable concern about putting all your eggs in one basket; if you put everything on one system, what do you do if it dies in your area?
Most of the FirstNet devices will handle more than one SIM card. Most of our 'mission critical' stuff has a FirstNet SIM and a Verizon SIM. So far we've never been without service.
Most of the discussion I hear about FirstNet these days revolves around it being an adjunct to your LMR system (broadband mobile data provider and possible backup voice system, in case your LMR system crashes). There is also some talk of connecting FirstNet to LMR systems for interoperability in the same manner as the Harris BeON solution, but around here at least, the tinkering continues with no real movement toward a roll-out.
Most are looking at it for non-critical users to have access to LMR systems.
Yeah, some agencies have caught a case of the stupids and talked about throwing everything on FirstNet, but so far I've not heard of any agency actually giving up on two way radios.
Same thing happened back with NexTel, many agencies were going to use it as their radio system. It's not FirstNet that's to blame for this attitude, it's the bean counters and the people in positions of authority that do not understand the technology.
