Last January, NEXA acquired Sonim, a U.S.-based provider of rugged 5G radio communication devices used by municipal and school bus fleets.

Now, AT&T and Sonim, have announced a new Land Mobile Radio (LMR) system. The Sonim XP5plus 5G, its fourth‑generation XP5 series device, is purpose‑built for mission‑critical communication.

Sonim XP5plus 5G Features

Available through AT&T Business and FirstNet Ready, the company said the XP5plus 5G delivers a powerful combination of ultra‑rugged durability, 5G connectivity, and true land mobile radio interoperability at a fraction of the cost of traditional radios, all in one single device.

The new XP5plus 5G advances the platform with faster performance, enhanced PTT capabilities, and future‑ready connectivity.

Users can send and receive texts, photos, and video with SMS/MMS, share media files instantly over PTT, make phone calls, and share a mobile hotspot connection in a pinch, with the same simplistic functionality of a radio and basic phone.

The product is supported by AT&T Enhanced PTT, FirstNet Rapid Response, and FirstNet Mission‑Critical PTT via the soon-to-be-available FirstNet Fusion, offering nationwide coverage with no proprietary radio infrastructure to maintain.

Key Product Points

• Two configurations to match workflows: radio‑style knobs or a no‑knob design
• Ease of use with programmable buttons and glove-friendly keypad
• Dedicated Push‑to‑Talk and emergency buttons for instant communications
• Dual front‑facing speakers for loud, clear audio in high‑noise environments
• 5G for FirstNet and business users, delivering mission‑critical reliability
• Sonim Ultra‑Rugged Performance Standards, including non‑incendive Class I, II, III, Division 2, IP68, IPx9K and MIL-STD-810H standards protect against drops, water, dust, and extreme temperatures
• Snapdragon RF modem system chipset delivering proven performance, security, and longevity
• Powerful, removable and fast charging battery   
• SonimWare software suite for enterprise manageability and customization
• 3‑year warranty to reduce downtime and replacement costs
• Extensive accessory ecosystem and compatibility with previous generation XP5plus accessories

“The launch of the Sonim XP5plus 5G marks the fourth generation of a product line that has consistently proven its value for critical communications,” said Robert Morcos, CEO of NEXA. “This next‑generation device reflects strong customer retention and growing demand for a solution that delivers true mission‑critical performance, exceptional durability, and superior ROI-powered by a Qualcomm platform, built by a U.S. OEM, and not manufactured in China. Simply put, it outperforms other devices in its class.”

School Buse Use Cases

One district user of Sonim's technologies is Georgia's Fulton County Schools (FCS), with over 900 buses.

When FCS was ready to upgrade its communications systems, they looked out for a hands-free, rugged solution with PTT capabilities inside each bus. Vickie Cross, executive director of transportation, explained that they also wanted bus drivers and monitors to be able to punch in and out while on the bus. You can’t get this functionality from a radio or a feature phone.”

One of the key elements was giving the district access to the FirstNet network. “Given these requirements, we didn’t have a lot of options to choose from,” said Djamal Balbed, system analyst, Fulton County Schools, on the Sonim website. “Our decision was easy as there were not a lot of devices to choose from that met all of our needs and are FirstNet-ready.”

FCS also upgraded the entire fleet from feature phones to Sonim XP8 smartphones.

The company also explained that school buses are approved as Extended Primary users for FirstNet, which means they have access to the FirstNet Band 14 Network. In case of an emergency or natural disaster, the local Primary FirstNet users. such as the local sheriff’s office, can lift Fulton County School buses to priority status on the FirstNet Network to assist in the event and communicate directly with first responders.

AT&T enlisted GPS Lockbox to provide the PTT mounts and remote speaker microphone, making the XP8 hands free for drivers who must avoid distractions while staying connected to dispatch at all times.

“This end-to-end solution is checking all the boxes and will allow us to expand when we’re ready,” Cross added. “As for now, we are putting it to the test and it’s passing with flying colors.”