Verizon Frontline President: Public Safety and Emerging Technology - The Future is Now

Kim Mirabella, President of Verizon Frontline & Vice President, Public Sector Federal at Verizon Business, issued her her predictions on what the tech landscape will look like for public safety officials this year.

Public Safety and Emerging Technology: The Future is Now

The public safety landscape is rapidly changing and first responders are increasingly adopting and implementing new technology to help them more safely and efficiently protect and serve our communities. 2026 will be a year in which we see this transformation rapidly accelerate.The findings from our fifth-annual Verizon Frontline Public Safety Communications Survey of first responders from across the nation clearly indicate the potential for explosive growth in the use of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), drones, robots and connected vehicles equipped with network-slicing capabilities. The survey results also highlight a relentless focus on reliable connectivity and growing investment in cybersecurity. Based on the trends indicated by this year’s survey data—and the critical need for first responders to gain an edge in an increasingly complex world—here are my predictions for 2026:

AI: A Daily Reality

My first prediction is a matter of turning high interest into daily reality. With a significant portion of first responders anticipating daily use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions within the next few years (46% in our survey), 2026 will see AI move beyond pilot programs to become an essential, everyday decision-support tool for many public safety agencies. We’ll see AI-powered solutions analyzing real-time data from disparate sources—like 911 call transcripts, traffic feeds, and social media—to deliver immediate, actionable insights to dispatchers and officers in the field. This won't replace human intuition, but it will augment it, helping lead to faster, more informed tactical decisions.

Cybersecurity: An Operational Necessity

With 67% of agencies reporting implementing new cybersecurity protections in the past year, it’s clear that cybersecurity is highly important to the public safety community and their response to this threat is robust. My second prediction is that in 2026, cybersecurity will completely shift from a specialized function into a mission-critical, operational necessity. Agencies will adopt a "security by design" mindset, meaning network reliability and resilience—which 78% of first responders say has resulted in better communications in the field—will be inextricably linked with advanced cyber defense mechanisms, including zero-trust architectures and continuous monitoring solutions.

Drones Become First on Scene

Rethinking Initial Response Currently, about 15% of agencies report daily drone usage, but nearly half (48%) expect to integrate this technology into their daily operations within five years. In 2026, drones and robots will serve as the first "eyes and ears" on scene for a range of critical incidents. We’ll see a significant increase in drones deployed to enhance situational awareness for fires, search-and-rescue operations in remote areas, and large-scale incident management. This shift, supported by reliable 5G connectivity, will keep first responders out of immediate harm’s way and provide an essential, high-definition aerial perspective that radically improves resource allocation before human assets are even deployed.

The Rise of IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer a buzzword in 2026—it is poised to completely transform public safety. Its power lies in its ability to deliver real-time data and offer enhanced situational awareness to first responders and emergency management teams. Consider the impact of IoT and smart devices. Imagine a comprehensive network of sensors, cameras, and connected infrastructure devices constantly monitoring the environment. This system can instantaneously report critical, real-time data on everything from changing weather patterns to the status of electrical grids or gas lines. For public safety, this means earlier, more precise detection of incidents like a fire, flood or chemical leak, enabling agencies to transition from a reactive posture to a predictive one and launch a far more targeted and efficient response.

Network Slicing and Connected Vehicles T

he advent of 5G Standalone (SA) technology is paving the way for advanced capabilities in public safety, with network slicing serving as a key enabler. In 2026 and beyond, we will see dedicated network slices providing guaranteed bandwidth and low latency for critical public safety communications, ensuring that emergency services have dedicated network resources even in congested areas. This will be crucial for the widespread adoption of connected vehicles in public safety. Police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks will leverage these network slices to communicate seamlessly with each other and with infrastructure, sharing real-time data and enabling enhanced situational awareness. The dedicated capacity delivered by a network slice will help lead to faster response times, improved coordination, and ultimately, more lives saved.

2026 will be defined by the successful integration of advanced technology into the very fabric of public safety operations. Our collective task, as technology providers and public safety leaders, is to ensure that these powerful tools are delivered on a foundation of unwavering reliability and security to help first responders stay safe and be more effective. The future is here, and it's built on a reliable network.