In moments of crisis, connectivity is the difference between chaos and coordination, isolation and rescue. Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) have long served as the critical lifeline linking first responders and communities when terrestrial networks falter or where they simply don’t exist. For decades, Ligado has been a driving force behind that lifeline, building and evolving services that keep people connected when it matters most. Now, MSS is entering a new era—extending its reach from emergency professionals to everyday citizens and reshaping the future of public safety.

Voice and Push-To-Talk: The Original Lifeline

For more than 25 years, Ligado’s MSAT Push-To-Talk (PTT) has empowered first responders to communicate instantly across the continent at the push of a button. PTT laid the groundwork for interoperability, enabling talkgroups to connect responders across agencies and jurisdictions. Today, MSAT-PTT continues to serve federal law enforcement, first responders, and emergency management operations in both the United States and Canada. Whether battling wildfires or coordinating disaster relief, responders depend on MSS to stay connected when it matters most.

First Generation Direct to Device SOS: Empowering the Public

With the introduction of Direct-to-Device (D2D) SOS services, Ligado is currently supporting the next leap in satellite connectivity bringing emergency communication out of the realm of specialized gear and into everyday consumer devices like smartphones. For the first time, individuals can reach help from virtually anywhere, whether stranded in remote wilderness or caught in an urban outage—no bulky satellite phones or technical know-how required. Ligado’s satellite network now supports millions of MSS devices across the U.S. and Canada, acting as a resilient lifeline that ensures people can reach help from virtually anywhere.

Next Generation: Multi-Orbit Safety and Seamless Interoperability

As MSS enters its next chapter, multi-orbit satellite architectures promise to redefine resilience. By adding advanced low-Earth orbit coverage, next-generation systems will enable mobile broadband speeds and low latency services, unlocking powerful new capabilities:

• Reliable connectivity during outages and disasters
• Real-time data and location intelligence for faster, smarter response
• Integrated voice-to-mobile services across satellite and cellular networks
• Seamless coordination with terrestrial emergency systems
• Equitable access to alerts and services for rural and Indigenous communities
• Live video streaming from drones and body cams to command centers
• Telemedicine support for paramedics in the field

In short, ubiquitous high-speed data turns public safety from reactive to proactive—enabling a faster, smarter, and more inclusive response to emergencies of all kinds.

The Bottom Line

This evolution isn’t just about technology—it’s about trust. A safety net that’s always above us, always on, and always ready.