T-Mobile is offering free unlimited 5G service to first responder agencies, including police, fire, and emergency medical services first responders.
https://www.t-mobile.com/news/connecting-heroes
Eligible Agencies
Eligible agencies include state or local police & sheriff, fire, and emergency medical services that support one of the following:
- Cities
- Counties
- States
- Districts or municipalities
- Tribal
Eligible First Responder
To be eligible for this offer one has to maintain active government duty in one of the following:
- Police, fire, or emergency medical services first responders
- Public safety or law enforcement command
- Police, sheriff, fire, or emergency medical services
- Police or fire chiefs and their staff
- Police or fire field command
- Police or fire dispatch
Terms & Conditions
5G: Capable device required; coverage not available in some areas. While 5G access won’t require a certain plan or feature, some uses/services might. 5G uplink not yet available. See Coverage details, Terms and Conditions, and Open Internet information for network management details (like video optimization).
Connecting Heroes: Line eligibility subject to reverification. Unlimited talk & text features for direct communications between 2 people; others (e.g., conference & chat lines, etc.) may cost extra. Unlimited high-speed data US only. In Canada/Mexico, up to 5GB high-speed data then unlimited at up to 128kbps. Additional international features available for purchase. Not available for hotspots and some other data-first devices.
Video streams at up to 1.5Mbps. Optimization may affect speed of video downloads; does not apply to video uploads. For best performance, leave any video streaming applications at their default automatic resolution setting.
Tethering: 1GB high-speed data then unlimited on our network at max 3G speeds. For the small fraction of customers using >50GB/mo., primary data usage must be on smartphone or tablet. Smartphone usage is prioritized over Mobile Hotspot (tethering) usage, which may result in higher speeds for data used on smartphone.
Network Management: Program/Service may be slowed, suspended, terminated, or restricted for interference with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users or abusive/excessive use. On-device usage is prioritized over tethering usage, which may result in higher speeds for data used on device. See T-Mobile.com/OpenInternet for details. See Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at www.T-Mobile.com for additional information.
Closing Thoughts
Pretty cool move by T-Mobile. If you’re a first responder and somehow don’t qualify for the free plan then it might be worth looking at their Magenta first responder plan which starts at $25/line.
