The United States Coast Guard Trusts Plum Portable Broadband Kits for Critical-Connectivity
Overview
Many of the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) deployments support natural disaster response, where a critical function falls to the Communications Command’s Deployable and Contingency Communications (DCC) team. A deployable, mobile communication architecture ensures communication can be established independent of local infrastructure and its condition — which is why the USCG uses Plum products as part of its Deployable Contingency Communication mission.
About
A critical function of the USCG’s emergency response falls to the Communications Command’s Deployable and Contingency Communications (DCC) team. COMMCOM’s mission provides military and first-response partners with expedited, reliable communication after disasters.
Challenge
Critically damaged network infrastructure is common during natural disasters and exacerbates the potential for network congestion on already-degraded infrastructure, compounding communication issues. The USCG frequently operates in scenarios with no shore-side connectivity and cannot always rely on mainland communication infrastructure to access its network. In those instances, the Coast Guard must supplement failed land-based network infrastructure to keep its mission moving.
Solution
The Coast Guard deploys a broad range of communication tools, including satellite, radio, and Plum Cases, depending on the situation. When land-based infrastructure fails, the USCG turns to cellular connectivity, and this is where Plum Cases come in. The team can use a Plum Case to connect to cellular signals from extreme distances, connect their devices to the case, and create a virtual private network into a secure network. In some instances, the USCG augments security on its Plum Cases to provide additional connectivity for interagency partners, using the Plum Case as the conduit for both encrypted network communications and open Wi-Fi broadband for first responders and partners. Satellite is another option for broadband, but it can be expensive and does not provide the network agility of cellular, making Plum’s cellular-based kits a fast, flexible choice when speed and reliability matter most.
Outcome
The USCG has depended on Plum Cases for cellular communication for the past six-plus years. In 2021, Hurricane Ida flooded a power station on Grand Isle, a small island south of New Orleans, Louisiana. The two-mile-long island was hit hard: the towers were down, cellular was down, and there was no power and no shore-side connectivity. Even so, the USCG connected a Plum Case to the Enhanced Mobile Incident Command Post (eMICP) and quickly restored connectivity. Once the local sector saw the capability, demand spread fast. The USCG had roughly 18 Plum Cases at the time, and by the second week after Ida, every case was deployed and in use — supporting boat stations, search-and-rescue personnel, interagency partners, and other USCG sectors. Plum’s portable broadband kits have proven to be a valuable tool for the Coast Guard, enabling rescue and recovery efforts to commence without delay even when a disaster takes out local power and cell towers.