Free unlimited 5G service for the nation’s first responders is here–and for the next 10 years! Powered by T-Mobile, the Connecting Heroes program includes unlimited talk, text, and data for every state and local police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) agency across the entire country.
T-Mobile first introduced the program last fall as part of a larger initiative, 5G for GOOD. Since the announcement, T-Mobile merged with Sprint, creating New T-Mobile. Together, the newly formed company has more towers, engineers, and bandwidth than ever before and expects to deliver 14 times the network capacity T-Mobile could provide prior. It’s the powerful combination of T-Mobile’s 5G network with Sprint’s massive capacity making the Connecting Heroes program a reality.
As part of the 10-year program, T-Mobile is also committing up to $7.7 billion to the effort. The intent, to revitalize the budgets of first responder agencies who often face serious spending limitations forcing them to choose between life-saving equipment or the wireless services vital for reliable connectivity when responding to a call.
T-Mobile hopes the spend will help reduce or close these budget gaps and create available dollars for things like new or better equipment and extra pay. Particularly today, the needs are further highlighted as agencies managing and responding to the ongoing demands of COVID-19 are dependent on quality, powerful resources, and connectivity when called upon.
T-Mobile CEO, Mike Sievert explained, “When we’re at our most vulnerable, first responders are there for us … and they are under more pressure today than ever before. Connecting Heroes is one way we’re saying ‘thank you’ in this critical time. People who save lives shouldn’t have to choose between life-saving equipment and wireless service. And with Connecting Heroes, they won’t have to. We’re not limiting this program to a few months or a year … first responders can get free service including 5G access, for a full decade. THIS is the kind of impact the new T-Mobile can have in the world. THIS is the kind of difference we can make.”
First responder agencies such as state or local police, fire, and EMS agencies are eligible for the program (both public and non-profit) which includes unlimited talk, text, data, and 5G access with 1 GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot (3G speed after limit is met). Eligible agencies who would like to participate in the program can sign up atwww.t-mobile.com/connectingheroes.
In addition to its focus on the first responder community, T-Mobile’s 5G for GOOD initiative also includes a new monthly prepaid service option and a program targeting 10 million households with school-age children that offers free service, hotspots, and reduced cost devices.