Border security remains an intense area of focus in the U.S. with copious federal funds being allocated to manage activities along the Southern border.
The mobilization of so many different agencies and law enforcement personnel engaged in this dangerous work enhances the need for real-time communication technologies to enable coordination on the ground. However, many high activity border areas are in connectivity-challenged locations outside the footprint of terrestrial coverage and where there are no towers to submit radio signals. In some areas, officers may only be able to communicate by voice and be unable to transmit and share GPS and other critical data.
Even in areas where cellular coverage is available, officers and agents using devices with SIM cards from one provider may experience slowdowns and degraded service if outside that provider’s coverage area.
When connectivity is absent or insufficient in the areas where border patrols are active, the health and safety of officers and the ability to successfully execute border security missions will undoubtedly be compromised.
Satellite networks fill connectivity gaps in the dead zones where terrestrial and cellular options are unreliable or altogether lacking. Today, new multi-layered and multi-band capabilities that bring together satellite and terrestrial networks into a unified connectivity solution offer border patrol teams even more robust voice and data coverage with greater affordability, ease, and flexibility.
Accessible via portable terminals that can be operated by anyone with minimal handholding and limited technical expertise, multi-layered communications solutions leverage the unique inherent characteristics of each satellite band as well as cellular. These solutions are ideal for border patrol agents as they are designed to seamlessly access the best available connectivity network as officers move in and out of coverage areas.
A prime example of how satellite technology is revolutionizing border security comes from Cochise County, Arizona where the Sheriff’s Office recently announced deploying satellite communications from Intelsat to enhance connectivity along the U.S.-Mexico border. This deployment allows officers to communicate seamlessly in remote areas, ensuring they can share real-time data and greatly enhance coordination and safety during critical operations.
By combining the breadth and widespread coverage of geostationary (GEO) and the speed and latency of low Earth orbit (LEO) with ground-based terrestrial networks, border patrol teams have consistent wireless connectivity for P25 radios, specialized equipment for use in the field, as well as personal smartphones and devices. Automated switching and failover capabilities ensure constant connectivity using the best available network. Encryption embedded into multi-layered solutions allows agents and officers to communicate naturally without the need to decrypt or change security keys.
The quality and robust nature of the connectivity support a wide range of bandwidth-heavy applications and use cases, from sharing GPS location data and surveillance videos to streaming live body camera video footage. With connectivity available at all times and in all locations, the personal safety of border patrol officers and agents is dramatically enhanced as distress calls can be transmitted in real-time along with detailed location information that responding support teams can use to respond.
In today’s increasingly challenging border environments, reliable and ubiquitous voice and high-speed data connectivity are keys to driving successful outcomes of border security missions. Multi-layered connectivity solutions featuring satellite and cellular enable all agencies, patrol teams, and enforcement organizations, from the U.S. military down to an individual sheriff’s office, to more effectively organize, communicate, and coordinate, ultimately reducing illicit border activity and keeping residents in border areas safe.
