WASHINGTON — Satellite operator Intelsat has signed its first customer for a communications service designed for public safety, first responders and border security, the company announced March 12.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona will deploy Intelsat’s Multi-Layer Communication System (MLCS) along the U.S.-Mexico border to support operations in previously unconnected areas.
Intelsat CEO David Wajsgras said the company is making a strategic push into a growing market for mobile connectivity in remote areas. In remarks at the Satellite 2025 Conference, Wajsgras said the Cochise County deal represents a key milestone as the company seeks to expand its footprint in border security.
“We’ve been working on the agreement with Cochise County Sheriff’s Office for quite a while, and we see that as a very good first step into border security more broadly, both in the United States on the southern border and the northern border, and then also around the world,” Wajsgras said.
The Multi-Layer Communication System (MLCS) integrates bandwidth from multiple satellite orbits — geostationary (GEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and low Earth orbit (LEO) — alongside terrestrial and mobile networks to create a seamless communications platform for first responders operating in remote areas.
Starlink satcom and 5G
For Cochise County, the system will combine SpaceX’s Starlink LEO satellite service with 5G cellular networks and a police radio gateway, providing voice and broadband connectivity in previously inaccessible border regions, the company said.
“This integration ensures seamless communication with the Sheriff’s 911 dispatch center, even when officers are up to two miles from their vehicles,” Intelsat said in its announcement.
The Virginia-based company provides MLCS as a fully managed service with end-to-end support. Ten systems have already been installed in Cochise County police vehicles, with four additional units to be deployed at the 911 dispatch center in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Beyond communications, the platform supports advanced safety features including GPS-based “officer down” alerts and broadband connectivity in areas where traditional infrastructure is limited or nonexistent.
“In my prior life, I had some experience in border security in different parts of the world, so I know the size of the market, what the opportunity space looks like,” added Wajsgras. “So I think that’s going to be a very big deal for the company.”
Though Intelsat has marketed the technology to military agencies, the company has yet to secure a Department of Defense contract for the system. A company spokesperson indicated that DoD could potentially utilize MLCS as a backup or replacement for existing two-way radio systems at military installations.
The announcement comes as Intelsat undergoes significant corporate changes. In April 2024, global satellite operator SES announced plans to acquire Intelsat for $3.1 billion, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2025.
SpaceNews staff writer Jason Rainbow contributed to this report
