First Responders
with critical voice, data and video over satellite-enabled networks.
Utilizing systems compliant with all SAFECOM requirements for emergency interoperable communication equipment,
Ground Control enables your teams to focus on the task at hand – saving lives.

How Satellite-Enabled Solutions Help Mitigate Risk to Emergency Personnel

Deliver situational awareness
In a crisis, delayed or missing situational awareness can cost lives. Satellite connectivity reduces the risk by delivering real-time intelligence to emergency teams on the ground through secure satellite-enabled internet access points. This connectivity ensures continuous, reliable communication even when terrestrial networks are damaged or unavailable.

Improve emergency response coordination
Satellite connectivity keeps emergency teams linked even when local networks are down, ensuring continuous communication in any situation. It enables real-time sharing of critical data, such as location, weather updates, and hazard alerts, improving situational awareness. By providing interoperable, reliable links across teams and agencies, satellite networks help coordinate faster, more effective emergency response.

Keep personnel on the ground safe
Keep emergency crews and personnel safe with satellite-connected, handheld devices that provide real-time location tracking and status updates. Two-way messaging enables rapid alerts for hazards, health emergencies, or environmental dangers, ensuring responders can act immediately. By ensuring communication even in disaster-affected areas, satellite connectivity helps protect lives.

Enable unmanned drone deployment
Satellite connectivity allows teams to operate emergency drones and access near real-time video to support public safety, medical response, and detect emerging threats such as wildfires and floods. Leveraging the extended coverage of drones, this data accelerates decision-making and helps protect the lives of emergency responders.
Recommended Devices:






Early Warning Systems
RockBLOCK can be used to monitor specific warning indicators including water levels and humidity. When paired with a sophisticated monitoring system, the RockBLOCK can also trigger an alarm if and when warning indicator data exceeds appropriate parameters, ensuring safe evacuation of those in danger zones.
Products to support this sector

Handheld Communication Devices
RockSTAR Burst complements this by enabling the rapid transmission of short, critical data packets from multiple units to command centers, supporting efficient situational awareness and resource deployment. Together, they enhance safety, improve response times, and ensure responders can operate with confidence in any environment.
Products to support this sector

Personnel Tracking Devices
Products to support this sector

Portable Communications
The MCD Football is a portable, rugged Wi-Fi hotspot that automatically connects to the Iridium Certus® network, allowing teams to quickly establish voice, data, and internet communications without technical setup.
MissionLINK provides a more permanent and high-capacity solution for vehicles or command posts, enabling seamless voice, text, and data services for ongoing operations.
Products to support this sector

VSAT Solutions
VSAT provides robust wireless internet, independent of public infrastructure. Ground Control designed and manufactures the Toughsat Auto Deploy Antenna, which is the only VSAT antenna listed by make and model in the US FEMA Cache list. And the Kymeta u8 boasts future-tech antennas, delivering VSAT on-the-move.
Products to support this sector
More on SATCOM solutions for First Responders
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Infographic: Satellite Communication Equipment for First Responders
Emergency Management Agencies have to be able to communicate. It’s a pre-requisite of any deployment, and satellite is a popular choice. Our infographic explores the best devices for different requirements.
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Elevating emergency operations: SATCOM’s role in transforming public safety
Discover the evolution of Public Safety SATCOMS and uncover vital tips for mapping your needs before device selection.
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Communicating effectively during major incidents: 3 challenges facing first responders
Reviewing potentially overlooked, affordable and easy-to-deploy solutions which can help tackle the three core communication issues of interoperability, network congestion, and coverage in remote areas.
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How Satellite Technology Can Help First Responders With Disaster Relief
How VSAT and Go-anywhere Pro terminals can help promote First Responder safety and efficiency, during disaster recovery.
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Why Connectivity Is Critical To Emergency Response Management
The most common connectivity uses and requirements of First Responders and details of our US FEMA Cache listed Toughsat solution.
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Satellite-Enabled Tsunami Early Warning System
As a critical communications network, there was never any question that ASC’s early warning system would need to utilise satellite connectivity, both for the coverage requirements and network reliability. Commercial terrestrial power and communications networks tend to perform poorly in a disaster – either through overuse or damage to their infrastructure.
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How Satellite can Support all Four Phases of Emergency Management
Visual showcase of how satcom can support safer, more efficient emergency management at every phase.
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Off-Grid Fire-Prevention Systems
RockBLOCK is a versatile, compact, low-power and dependable way of sending and receiving data from remote homes. It uses the Iridium satellite network, giving truly global coverage and is a vital part of fire prevention systems.
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Aviation Trackers for Search and Rescue
Aviation is considered one of the safest methods of travel, but with technical or human error, mistakes and accidents can still happen, leaving pilots and passengers in need of rescue.
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Enhancing law enforcement: the role of satellite communications in modern policing
Satellite communications have revolutionized the way police forces operate in the US. In this blog post, we will explore the crucial role and key benefits of satellite-based communication in modern policing.
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FAQs About Satellite IoT for First Responders
Yes, Ground Control offers an API-first management and data platform (Cloudloop), which enables integration of device telemetry into existing systems, dashboards, GIS, or command-and-control software. On the device and firmware level, we support common communication protocols (e.g. MQTT, message-based protocols) and can act as gateways to reformat or buffer data.
Under extreme weather events, including hurricanes, wildfires, floods, satellite connectivity systems from Ground Control will offer much greater reliability compared to terrestrial options, cellular towers or fiber, which are prone to damage or power failure. Our satellite devices are rugged and IP-rated, capable of surviving extreme temperatures, water submersion and deployment in harsh conditions.
The Rock series devices, including the RockSTAR, operate on the Iridium L-band satellite network, which is known for its exceptional resilience and reliability in all weather conditions. Unlike higher frequency bands such as Ka- or Ku-band, L-band signals are largely unaffected by rain, snow, or atmospheric interference, ensuring consistent communication when it’s needed most.
The Toughsat XP VSAT antenna is also specifically robust – even under high winds, flood, and fire-affected areas. It is built to be portable, deployable, and to provide broadband in disaster scenarios when conventional networks have failed.
In emergency response, timing is critical. Our satellite-enabled communication solutions have been designed for quick setup with minimal training:
Handheld devices, such as the RockSTAR, can be operational within seconds to a few minutes and portable terminals, including the MCD-4800 and Toughsat Flyaway, can be set up and ready in approximately 10 to 15 minutes with minimal effort.
Yes. Our solutions support multi-agency coordination by enabling interoperable communication across local, state, and federal agencies. They facilitate seamless collaboration among fire, police, EMS, and other disaster response units, as well as NGOs and private emergency support contractors.
Satellite Solutions for Enhanced First Response
With over 20 years of experience facilitating emergency preparedness and response across the globe, we understand that in a crisis, every second counts. We’re constantly evolving and adapting our Public Safety offer and systems to best support teams on the ground. This is just part of the reason Ground Control has been a trusted name in Emergency Responder satcom since 2002.
Whatever your communication or connectivity needs, we can help.