Harris County First Responders Equipped with Public Safety Mobile Solution from Sonim Technologies

Sonim’s XP7 LTE Android Smartphones Paired with FirstNet Network Delivered Ultra-rugged, Mission-Critical Data Communications at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

SAN MATEO, Calif. (March 22, 2016) – The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo drew more than 2.4 million visitors this year, which required a massive public safety effort to cover an event this size. However, for the first time, local public safety agencies were equipped with the latest mobile solutions that greatly improve response times and inter-department communications.

Sonim Technologies, maker of the world’s toughest mobile phones, provided a total of 75 Sonim XP7 Android smartphone devices to local public safety, fire and EMS first responders throughout the course of the 20-day event.

The deployment is significant in that it is the largest pilot program Sonim has participated in to date. With participation in eight major deployments over the past year including the Papal visit in Philadelphia, the Rose Parade and the “Big Game,” the XP7 has proven to be a preferred smartphone used on LTE Band Class 14, FirstNet’s high-speed, wireless broadband network dedicated solely to first responders.

The Band Class 14 Network Has Been In The Testing Phase For Several Years And Allows First Responders To Bypass The Consumer Mobile Networks That Tend To Get Congested At Events Of This Size, Which Can Greatly Impact Public Safety Response Times. The Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo Is One Of Many Early Deployments Of An LTE Band Class 14 Network.

“While We’ve Made A Lot Of Progress With Our Network Rollout, There’s Still A Long Way To Go,” Said Jim McMillan, Engineering Manager, Harris County Public Safety Technology Services. “Through These Larger Scale Operations, We Are Learning A Great Deal About Device And Accessory Use C