AT & T’s public safety network knows which floor the first responders are on

Security agencies can also purchase their own Cells on Wheels (COWs) to quickly connect to FirstNet via satellite in cases where a conventional link is not available, such as during a natural disaster.

All of this is not available nationwide. Vertical GPS, for example, is limited to 40 markets that include cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. However, these improvements could be vital if they save time during rescues or keep emergency crews in contact when they would otherwise be left in the dark.