The latest set of Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Plenary electronic meetings (e-meetings) concluded on September 19. The meetings focused on Release 18 (R18) which is currently in progress. R18 will become the inaugural release for 5G Advanced that includes new innovations toward the 5G vision. The plenary e-meetings made solid progress on the study items and work items that form the basis to advance the agreed upon R18 features. The following reports discuss the current status of R18 work.

HealthSignals joined the Safer Buildings Coalition (SBC).

If first responders have their way, the future of public safety will include more internet-connected devices, a continued emphasis on network reliability and resiliency during emergency response operations and far more demand for 5G in the coming years.

The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) granted one long-form application and issue 41 new priority access licenses (PAL) in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking applications for a position on its National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC).

The FCC entered into consent degrees with five telephones carriers to settle investigation into whether the carriers failed to file 9-1-1 reliability certifications for 2021 by the deadline of October 15, 2021.

The “Advanced Open/Obstructed Test Proctor Course for Evaluating Drone Capabilities and Remote Pilot Proficiency” was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in conjunction with the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T).

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released the new “S&T Partnership Guide.” The new guide provides information about the opportunities for a variety of potential partners to take part in the lifecycle of innovation through collaborative research and development partnership opportunities and support the delivery of innovative technologies for homeland security.

Versaterm Public Safety acquired FivePoint Solutions, a data integration solutions company for the judicial and public safety space, to strengthen its public-safety ecosystem with comprehensive data exchange capabilities that provide anytime, anywhere access to accurate, up-to-date information, enabling smarter insights, decisions, and actions.

The French Ministry of the Interior and Overseas Terriotires selected a consortium led by Airbus and Capgemini for the role of Package 2 integrator for the Réseau Radio du Futur (RRF), or radio network of the future, the secure and resilient broadband network for domestic security and emergency rescue forces.