According to AT&T, the company has added 17 new deployable assets to the FirstNet and AT&T networks to support emergency response in Hawaii and Alaska.
The company said the additions expand FirstNet’s capacity to provide reliable communications during disasters such as wildfires, floods and hurricanes.
Fourteen of the new assets are deployed across the Hawaiian islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu.
Three additional mini Compact Rapid Deployables (miniCRDs) are stationed in Anchorage, Alaska.
AT&T confirmed that the expansion builds on existing collaboration with the First Responder Network Authority to address regional needs.
AT&T stated that Hawaii’s new deployable assets include four Compact Rapid Deployables (CRDs), six miniCRDs and four Low-earth orbit Emergency Communication Portables (LECPs).
CRDs provide up to two miles of portable FirstNet coverage without relying on external power sources.
MiniCRDs can be transported as checked luggage and deliver up to half a mile of coverage for emergency operations.
LECPs use low-earth orbit satellite links to restore communication when fibre or microwave connections are unavailable.
The company said these additions triple the number of locally available FirstNet deployable assets in Hawaii.
In Alaska, the new miniCRDs expand AT&T’s network support for local first responders.
According to the company, the FirstNet Response Operations Group (ROG) has previously deployed assets during wildfires and cable outages caused by arctic sea ice.
The ROG also supported public safety efforts following flooding from the remnants of Typhoon Halong.
AT&T said the ROG aims to deliver deployable units within 14 hours of a request at no additional charge to public safety agencies.
This standard is part of the company’s broader partnership with the FirstNet Authority.
AT&T announced that it is also expanding its broader nationwide fleet with 50 new Low-earth orbit Cell Trailers (LCTs).
These trailers can be transported efficiently and set up within minutes by a single technician to provide high-speed temporary cell service.
According to the company, this expansion brings the total number of LCTs to more than 65 across the United States.
The firm said that LCTs have already been deployed in response to events such as the Texas floods.
AT&T added that it has invested over $1 billion in its disaster recovery program since 1992.
With the new assets, FirstNet now has more than 190 portable units dedicated to public safety agencies.
AT&T explained that the FirstNet network differs from commercial carriers by providing exclusive deployable assets and guaranteed response times.
The company stated that FirstNet ROG, led by former first responders, manages deployments across all major national disasters.
In 2025, the ROG has supported over 2,165 deployments across incidents and planned events, including wildfires, hurricanes and floods.
Readers can view the full blog on AT&T’s website.
The expansion of deployable assets could enhance the operational resilience of emergency services in geographically remote or disaster-prone regions.
Public safety agencies in Hawaii and Alaska will gain faster access to mobile communication systems designed specifically for emergency response.
The CRDs and miniCRDs provide temporary but critical connectivity where power and infrastructure are disrupted.
Emergency management directors and communications officers may benefit from reduced downtime during disaster operations.
The additional LCT units will also improve response capability for large-scale national emergencies where communication networks are compromised.
