In the fire service, staying connected is not just important- it’s critical. Connectivity enables accurate location tracking, situational awareness, and real-time updates, giving crews the information they need to make informed decisions in dynamic environments.

When connectivity is lost or marginal, it presents serious challenges, including:

• Situational distraction: Teams can become distracted trying to regain connectivity or troubleshoot devices.
  
  
• Navigational issues: Without updated maps or location data, crews may struggle to find their way to the incident.
  
  
• Loss of situational awareness: Units miss critical incident updates, status changes, and the movement of nearby resources.
  
  
• Delayed status reporting: This can result in dispatchers spending more time managing calls and coordinating units.
  
  

The Problem with Connectivity in the Fire Service

Connectivity issues in the fire service are often not as simple as having no connection. More commonly, crews face marginal connectivity- where the signal is inconsistent or weak- or network saturation during major events. Worse, some units might find themselves in complete cellular and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) blackout zones.

While the industry has responded with solutions like Verizon Frontline, FirstNet, and T-Mobile’s public safety initiatives, these still have limitations. Even the most robust cellular networks can be overwhelmed or fail entirely in critical situations. In short, you can’t count on cellular alone. That’s why it’s essential to not only consider cellular options but also look beyond them.

The Role of Starlink in Modern Connectivity

Starlink Mobile and Direct-to-Satellite connectivity are becoming part of the fire service toolkit. With low-earth orbit satellites, Starlink offers unmatched reliability and reach, even in remote or heavily impacted areas. When paired with a properly configured failover gateway, Starlink can step in when primary cellular networks like Verizon or FirstNet are unavailable.

This kind of layered connectivity is already making a difference in how agencies stay online during large-scale incidents, wildfires, or natural disasters.

This is the kind of backup and reliability the fire service has needed for years.

For optimal reliability, we recommend a multi-faceted approach:

• Use a failover gateway or Cradlepoint router configured to switch based on latency rather than just connectivity availability.
  
  
• Combine primary cellular networks (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, FirstNet) with Starlink Mobile as a backup.
  
  
• Consider SD-WAN solutions like Cradlepoint or Dejero to utilize multiple networks simultaneously. However, be mindful that these solutions can struggle to determine when connectivity is universally failing.
  
  
• The most effective systems account for failure as part of normal operations.

Offline Maps and Dynamic Data

Tablet Command supports offline mapping, which provides basic navigation even when connectivity drops. However, many agencies prefer dynamic maps that include live data such as camera feeds, evacuation zones, and road closures. This kind of real-time context is only possible when reliable connectivity is in place. Balancing offline readiness with the benefits of connected mapping tools is essential.

Make Connectivity a Non-Issue

To eliminate connectivity challenges, prioritize resilient and redundant solutions. Connectivity must be treated as a non-negotiable operational requirement. The best approach combines the most reliable cellular connections with satellite failover, ensuring that your crews remain connected when they need it most.

Because in today’s fireground environment, “we lost connection” isn’t just a technical issue- it’s an operational risk.

With thoughtful integration of cellular and satellite systems, the fire service can overcome connectivity challenges and maintain operational effectiveness, even in the most demanding conditions.

Want to see how reliable connectivity and real-time data come together in the field?

Learn how Tablet Command is giving emergency teams in North America the awareness, coordination, and confidence to command any incident- faster, safer, and without compromise. Request a demo.