From Signal Gaps to Seamless Dispatch: Transformed Rural Texas’s Firefighting Operations with Peplink
The Round Mountain Volunteer Fire Department (RMVFD) serves North Blanco County, a vast rural area in Central Texas. As the primary emergency responder for this remote community, RMVFD is dedicated to saving lives, controlling fires, and providing vital services like rescue and public fire education.
Operating in such a remote environment, reliable connectivity can mean the difference between delay and decisive action. With the help of Peplink technology, RMVFD is now better equipped to fulfill its mission and reduce fires and injuries through proactive prevention.
Challenge
In rural regions like North Blanco County, limited internet infrastructure presents serious challenges for emergency services. Critical operations—including emergency call intake, dispatch systems, situational awareness, mapping, and remote coordination—all rely on consistent connectivity.
For RMVFD, which covers a 250-square-mile district, these challenges are amplified by weak radio and cellular signals across much of its operational area. To maintain effective data and voice communication, they required a robust solution that could overcome these connectivity gaps.
Solution
To address these challenges, RMVFD equipped six of their emergency apparatuses with the Peplink MAX BR1 Mini 5G, paired with roof-mounted cellular/GPS antennas and iPad docking stations. This strategic deployment, supported by the Verizon Frontline 5G Network for First Responders, transformed each vehicle into a mobile hotspot capable of delivering reliable connectivity in the field.
This setup enables crews to maintain critical communications, access online resources, and use Wi-Fi calling even in areas with weak cellular signals. The mobile network also provides flexibility for integrating other devices, such as drone video feeds, to enhance situational awareness during operations.
Additionally, RMVFD actively uses Peplink’s InControl 2 platform for remote monitoring, centralized router management, and firmware updates, ensuring the entire system remains operational and optimized at all times.
Result
The department reports excellent coverage across its 250-square-mile service area. Fire crews now have reliable access to dispatch systems and essential mobile applications—including weather updates, navigation, HAZMAT references, and medical protocols—directly from their vehicles during emergency calls. Their Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) provide seamless connectivity to the county’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, enabling faster decision-making and response.
With reliable connectivity in place, RMVFD can fully leverage features like Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) within its CAD system. Real-time vehicle tracking now supports faster coordination with EMS and law enforcement, improving response times and enhancing crew safety, especially during wildfires and multi-agency incidents. The improved connectivity also enables Wi-Fi calling in low-signal areas and allows RMVFD to share hotspot access with assisting agencies on the scene, further strengthening joint response efforts.
Deployment
- Installed in fire apparatuses for mobile connectivity
- Compact, rugged form factor
- Centralized management via InControl 2
