5 Reasons Police and Public Safety Embrace 4G LTE and 5G

Cellular Communications Prove Reliable, Cost-Effective, and Flexible for Police, Fire, and EMS Applications

Overseeing a public-sector agency network is not for the faint of heart — especially when it's an agency responsible for public safety. The services are vital for law enforcement agencies, and the budgets are tight — and watched by the whole community. Even one extra minute in the field can save a life. With so many of a modern police department's mission-critical duties tied to Internet connectivity, a reliable network is not a luxury but an absolute must.

USAT and its manufacturing partners like Cradlepoint work with these agencies to improve efficiency and public safety through cutting-edge technology.

Public Safety 4G and 4G with Cradlepoint

5 Reasons Police Departments and Emergency Services Embrace 4G LTE and 5G

Police departments and emergency service organizations across the US — even Europe — are seeing the benefits of 4G LTE and 5G solutions that are purpose-built for the public sector.

Here are five reasons why these agencies are embracing 4G LTE and 5G:

Reliability

First responder IT departments know they can't have downtime and delays getting their teams on the road — not with public safety at stake. Modern tools such as body cameras, tablets, and dashboard cameras are critical and require WiFi access. First responders are finding that accessing 4G LTE and 5G through ruggedized in-vehicle routing solutions provides a reliable option for their connectivity challenges and is much more prudent than plugging USB air cards - which are consumer-grade solutions and subject to damage - into their laptops while in the field.

Cost-Effectiveness

Always-on connectivity saves taxpayer funds by allowing officers to stay in the field for more hours each day since they can securely file and send reports from anywhere rather than returning to the office. This constant connectivity significantly reduces dispatch times and creates efficiencies for emergency response in the field.

"Cradlepoint saves so much time for IT and frustration for the officers. Before, it wasn't unusual for an officer to climb into their cruiser only to find the modem missing or broken. They would have to get out of the cruiser and either find another modem or car. With a Cradlepoint router secured in each trunk, officers know that when they get into their cruiser, they will be connected—end of story," said the Manager of Planning and Analysis for a large police department in Idaho.

Further, enterprise-grade 4G LTE and 5G from various cellular carriers provide high-end connectivity at an affordable rate. Load-balancing capabilities within Cradlepoint solutions also help by controlling data overage fees.

Real-Time Awareness and Analytics

With the type of emergencies that police and first responders regularly encounter, real-time applications are vital. Remote cloud management provides real-time analytics, such as GPS location information, that help keep officers safe.

Many departments have the tools to compress, encrypt and send video to dispatchers for various reasons, including to provide command units with timely information about the whereabouts and operations of their officers during a call. However, quick, efficient streaming in the field is only possible with excellent Wi-Fi connectivity.

Remote Management

4G LTE and 5G networking solutions give law enforcement and first responder agencies an opportunity for additional savings through remote cloud management. Cradlepoint's NetCloud service enables real-time monitoring and troubleshooting, plus makes deployment and firmware upgrades easier and quicker.

According to the Idaho-based police department, the time spent accomplishing a firmware update for its 150-vehicle fleet has plummeted from 160 man-hours to about 5 minutes.

Flexibility

No one wants rigid, difficult-to-change solutions. Agencies must be able to analyze and respond to trends as they arise.

4G LTE and 5G carriers and related solutions can be replaced or scaled up or down extremely quickly. Cradlepoint solutions take the handcuffs off law enforcement IT departments with carrier-agnostic independence, meaning that flexibility is at an all-time high.

"Our overall goal is to create a mobile-office environment for everyone in the field. We want our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, code enforcement officers, inspectors—anyone working in the field—to have all the information technology they need to work together to get the most out of our tax dollars. Cradlepoint's wireless technology is helping us get there," said the CIO of the same Idaho city.

The more that police and emergency services organizations embrace the benefits of 4G LTE and 5G, the more they're spreading the word throughout the first responder community. 4G LTE and 5G solutions by Cradlepoint are proving their worth for these agencies, which is great news for communities everywhere.

About USAT

USAT specializes in designing and deploying fixed and mobile wireless data connectivity solutions across a wide range of industries — complete with implementation, training, proof of concept (POC), system auditing, and on-site RF surveying services with optional engineering maintenance contracts.

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Our team not only helps you select, provision, and activate devices, we make sure they work in practical applications and real-life situations.

For over 25 years, USAT has provided cellular networking solutions for public safety agencies across the USA. With our extensive catalog of world-class routers, gateways, and software designed for remote monitoring and management in even the harshest environments — you can count on us to get and keep you connected.

Reliable connectivity translates to less manual equipment maintenance, reduced downtime, and an overall increase in your business's ROI. Contact the experts at USAT to learn how our wireless networking solutions can help meet your organization's exacting needs.