Verizon Frontline releases results of new public safety communications survey | News Release | Verizon
Accessibility Resource CenterSkip to main content
About UsCareers
Support
Our Company
  • Our Company Overview
  • Who We Are Who We Are
    • Overview
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • History and Timeline
    • The Verizon Story
    • Headquarters & Contact Info
    • Verizon Fact Sheet
    • Leadership
    • Awards
  • What We Do What We Do
    • Overview
    • 5G
    • Innovation Labs
    • 4G LTE
    • Broadband & Fiber
    • Internet of Things
    • Managed Security
  • How We Operate How We Operate
    • Overview
    • Code of Conduct
    • Management Governance
    • Open Internet
    • Policies
    • Retiree Information
    • State Government Affairs
    • Supplier Diversity
 
News
  • News Center News Center
    • News Center
    • Networks & Platforms
    • Products & Plans
    • Responsible Business
    • Financial
    • Public Safety
    • Inside Verizon
  • News Releases News Releases
    • News Releases
    • Media Contacts
    • B-roll and images
    • RSS Feeds
    • Emergency resource center
    • Verizon Fact Sheet
  • Inside Verizon Inside Verizon
    • Inside Verizon
    • Welcome V Team
    • Call for Kindness
    • Social Justice
    • Podcasts
 
Responsibility
  • Responsibility Overview
  • Digital Inclusion Digital Inclusion
    • Overview
    • Verizon Innovative Learning
    • Verizon Innovative Learning HQ
    • Small Business Program
  • Climate Protection Climate Protection
    • Overview
    • Sustainability
  • Human Prosperity Human Prosperity
    • Overview
    • Reskilling Program
    • Employee Volunteers
  • Sharing our Success Sharing our Success
    • Overview
    • Giving and Grants
    • Employee Giving
  • Product Responsibility Product Responsibility
    • Overview
    • Accessibility
    • Account Security
    • Privacy Policy
  • ESG Resources Hub ESG Resources Hub
    • Overview
  • Parenting in a Digital World Parenting in a Digital World
    • Overview
    • Digital Parenting 101
    • Young children 3-8
    • Preteens 9-12
    • Teenagers 13-18
    • By topic
    • Meet the editorial team
 
Investors
  • Investor Relations overview
  • Financial Reporting Financial Reporting
    • Overview
    • SEC Filings
    • Annual Reports
    • Quarterly Earnings
    • Stock Information
    • Dividend History
    • Tax Information
    • Fixed Income
    • Asset-backed Securitization
  • Corporate Governance Corporate Governance
    • Overview
    • Board of Directors
    • Board Committees
  • Shareowner Services Shareowner Services
    • Overview
    • Cost Basis Calculator
    • Shareowner FAQs
  • ESG Resources Hub ESG Resources Hub
    • Overview
    • Human Rights at Verizon
  • News & Events News & Events
    • Investor Events & Webcasts
    • Investor News
    • Investor Calendar
    • Email Alerts
  • Contact Investor Relations
 
Support
About UsCareers
end of navigation menu
  1. About
  2. News
  3. Public Safety
  4. First Responders
  5. Verizon Frontline releases results of new public safety communications survey
News Center
  1. Menu
    All News
    Networks & Platforms
    Products & Plans
    Responsible Business
    Public Safety
    Inside Verizon
    Financial
    News Releases
    Media Contacts
    B-roll and images
    Verizon Fact Sheet
    RSS Feeds
    Emergency Resources
    Cable Facts

Full Transparency

No Updates

We're committed to building trust.

The Verizon Newsroom greatly values transparency and we’re committed to setting the industry standard for corporate communications. By integrating blockchain technology, we’re able to permanently log all changes made to official releases after publication.

Learn more
11/04/2021|Public Safety|First Responders

Verizon Frontline releases results of new public safety communications survey

Media contact(s)
Eric Durie
516-382-8219
eric.durie@verizon.com
Read Executive Summary
Download Survey (PDF)

Full Transparency

No Updates

Learn more

What you need to know:

  • Need for interoperability among public safety agencies: 93 percent of first responders say coordination between agencies is critical when responding to public safety crises, while 80 percent believe that interoperability – the ability to communicate across agencies, regardless of network or device – is critical.

  • Smartphones are essential tools: Smartphones have passed land mobile radio systems (LMRs) as the main way first responders communicate on the job, with 72 percent using their devices for work every day, compared to 68 percent for LMRs. Only half (50.5 percent) use laptops.

  • Opportunity to improve: While the vast majority of first responders (70 percent) feel capable of doing their jobs with existing technologies, nearly 20 percent want better technology.

  • Ready for 5G: Nearly all first responders (97 percent) know about 5G, and most (70 percent) believe 5G’s faster speeds and enhanced capabilities are key to the future of public safety technology.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Verizon Frontline today released findings from its new Public Safety Communications Survey, conducted by Lexipol, incorporating responses from more than 3,000 active first responders nationwide.

The results indicate a demand among public safety professionals for network reliability and interoperability as well as a desire to take advantage of the enhanced communication and technological capabilities enabled by 5G. 

The results of the survey were first revealed during an event at the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum here in Washington, D.C., earlier today.

Verizon Public Sector senior vice president, Jennifer Chronis moderated a panel discussion on the survey’s findings and other challenges facing first responders. The discussion featured Bill Bratton, two-time commissioner of the New York Police Department, former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department and current chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council; Ed Plaugher, former fire chief for Arlington County, Va., and former assistant executive director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs; and Karen Tandy, vice chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and former Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Shifting technology trends and emerging needs

Beyond a demand for greater interoperability, the survey revealed developments in technology expectations and usage. For example, smartphones now outpace existing land mobile radio systems for daily communications tasks by a small but growing margin, with 72 percent using smartphones compared to 68 percent for LMRs.

Overall, personal devices were viewed by first responders as the strongest area of technological improvement over the past 20 years across all public safety agencies at 75 percent. This was followed by the use of data for situational awareness (55 percent) and network reliability (48.5 percent) as areas of improvement.

The trend toward greater smartphone field usage is expected to continue for the next five years, when emerging technologies such as internet-connected vehicles, drones and tablets could also see significant growth. Drone use by public safety agencies alone could grow from five percent today to 16-percent adoption by 2026, according to the survey.

While most first responders (70 percent) said they feel capable of doing their jobs with existing technologies, 18 percent indicated a desire for better technology to help them prepare for the next emergency or crisis.

5G expected to enhance the future of first response

Potential 5G benefits such as faster speeds, low latency and features like the ability to send larger files and the ability to connect a larger number of devices are widely recognized among first responders.

Almost all respondents (97 percent) said they have heard of 5G but only 40 percent say they are confident in their understanding of the technology. At the same time, more than 70 percent think 5G will become a priority in the future of public safety technology. 

The findings also support Verizon Frontline‘s commitment to deliver real interoperability with priority and preemption across carriers and networks. Roughly 9 in 10 respondents said the ability to communicate across agencies regardless of network provider or device was “a critical concern” (57 percent) or “somewhat of a concern” (33 percent).

Tags:
Internet of Things

Related Articles

A first responder on the cutting edge of tech: Interoperability matters
08/03/2021
Increased connectivity in emergency health care is giving first responders new approaches to life-threatening moments, but interoperability is essential. Here’s why.
Verizon Frontline supports Hurricane Ida response and recovery
09/01/2021
The Verizon Response Team arrived in Southeastern Louisiana Monday to deliver Verizon Frontline technology to first responders conducting search and rescue and disaster response
Services & Solutions
  • Verizon.com
  • Mobile Plans
  • Mobile Devices
  • Home Services
  • Small and Medium Business
  • Enterprise Solutions
  • Verizon Connect
  • Public Sector
  • Partner Solutions
Support
  • Mobile Online Support
  • Home Online Support
  • Contact Customer Support
  • Sign in to your Account
  • Store Locator
  • Account Security & Fraud Claims
  • The Relay Blog
  • Accessibility
Innovation
  • Innovation Labs
  • The Verizon Story & Museum
  • Verizon Ventures
Network Technologies
  • 4G LTE
  • 5G
  • Fiber Optics
  • Multi-Access Edge Compute (MEC)
Careers
  • Welcome to the #NetworkLife
  • Life at Verizon
  • Culture & Diversity
  • Search Open Roles
  • Careers Site Map
Follow Verizon News
  • twitter
  • instagram
Follow Inside Verizon
  • twitter
  • instagram
Follow Verizon Careers
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • linkedln
Follow Customer Support
  • facebook-official
  • twitter
Follow VerizonGreen
  • twitter
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Your Privacy Choices
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility
  • Open Internet
  • Important Consumer Information
  • About Our Ads
  • Site Map
© 2023 Verizon