Mike Leff: AT&T Helps Navy Assess Network Needs as Part of FirstNet Deployment Effort

Mike Leff, vice president for defense at AT&T’s public sector business, said the company works with the Department of the Navy to identify smart base applications since the service opted to deploy the FirstNet public safety broadband network, GCN reported Monday.

“We are beginning to work top-down, bottom-up with the Navy and Marine Corps, looking at base by base to better understand what the needs are," Leff said.

By knowing "the current state infrastructure in terms of what’s on base — whether it’s macro coverage, small-cell coverage all the way through fiber in the ground — [we can] begin to put together a better view of the current state and then the future state and then line that up with the Navy’s priorities,” he added.

He cited deployable network assets and an app store for public sector organizations as some of the potential benefits of FirstNet to the Navy and mentioned how the Defense Support of Civil Authorities process could help facilitate coordination between naval bases and first responders through FirstNet.

DSCA “is where I believe the Navy and local communities will get tremendous value of improved coordination and communications with first responders using the FirstNet platform,” Leff said.

“Essentially [DSCA] provides Department of Defense assets to several authorities in response to requests for things like domestic emergencies, law enforcement support or other domestic activities.”