The Continuing Struggles of PTT over FirstNet's Widespread Acceptance

Despite offering substantial benefits, PTT (Push-to-Talk) over FirstNet faces challenges hindering its widespread adoption. AT&T reported over a million PTT users on FirstNet in 2021, yet traditional P25 systems retain around 1.5 million active users. Primary obstacles include the lack of a standardized device and accessory ecosystem, and the absence of direct-mode functionality for out-of-network communication. Some public safety agencies have successfully integrated PTT over FirstNet, reporting enhanced voice quality and reliability. To address these hurdles, key steps involve creating a standardized ecosystem, developing direct-mode functionality, and increasing advocacy. With our advanced PTT system, PUSHCOM, we aim to overcome these challenges and demonstrate the potential of PTT over FirstNet, as highlighted in our recent pilot.