• June 23, 2021

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Launched in May of 2020, T-Mobile’s Connecting Heroes offer is a 10-year commitment to provide first responders, including state and local fire, 911, police, and EMS departments, with free service and 5G access. Now, T-Mobile is upgrading the Connecting Heroes program, adding new plans, rugged devices, and preemption to the offer.

Along with priority network access, T-Mobile has added preemption for first responders enrolled in Wireless Priority Service (WPS) with Connecting Heroes plans. This means, for all calls and data, first responders now have priority access and preemption. This enables first responders’ communications to be put ahead of day-to-day consumer traffic, and during an urgent situation, any non-emergency traffic will move to the back to clear the network for critical communications.

T-Mobile also announced it will begin to offer rugged devices, including Sierra Wireless’ new MG90 5G rugged router and Cat phones, the Cat S62 and the rugged Cat flip phone. The rugged router from Sierra Wireless is available now while the Cat phones won’t be available until later this summer.

In addition, T-Mobile will also be adding more Connecting Heroes plan options. Last year, T-Mobile launched free and $15 plans. This year, on June 23, there will be three new paid options that include unlimited text, talk, and data, hotspot access, and a free Samsung 5G phone.

“We launched Connecting Heroes last year so that first responders would no longer have to choose between funding life-saving equipment or wireless communication. At T-Mobile, first responder calls get through first and that could make the difference in an emergency when making life-saving decisions,” said Mike Katz, EVP of T-Mobile for Business. “First responders risk it all for us, and we feel it’s our duty to support them with our incredible service at the lowest cost — even free.”

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Sources:

mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/tmobile-ems

fiercewireless.com/operators/t-mobile-pumps-up-first-responder-program-preemption

investor.t-mobile.com/news-and-events/t-mobile-us-press-releases/press-release-details/2021/T-Mobile-Upgrades-Connecting-Heroes-Adds-Preemption-Rugged-Devices-and-New-Plans-With-5G-Phones-for-First-Responders/default.aspx

t-mobile.com/business/government/first-responders-connecting-heroes