When cell towers go down, Watch Duty can now reach users by satellite

When wildfire and floods threaten a community, one of the first things they can impact is the ability to communicate. Now, users can access Watch Duty via satellite data on T-Mobile, working around cell towers that are down or overloaded during emergencies. 

Satellite data can help solve a real problem: during times of heavy use, such as during the Palisades fire, this provides another path to access information consistently.

“We also see essential cell site equipment, antennas, and ground-level equipment damaged during wildfires and as a result of major flooding events like Hurricane Helene,” says Kevin Fetterman, Senior Vice President of Public Safety Strategy at Watch Duty. “When you need Watch Duty most, we don’t want your cell service to get in the way of essential information.”

Cell signal gaps aren’t only an emergency problem. They’re a daily reality for people who live in remote areas, and for hikers and campers who need updates if conditions are worsening nearby. 

This update allows supported devices on T-Mobile to connect directly to satellite data, please check your device or carrier requirements for accessing satellite-based data. Though loading times may be slower, users can continue receiving Watch Duty alerts and using core app functionality, no cell tower required. As more providers offer satellite based data, this functionality will extend to more Watch Duty users. 

"When wildfires and floods threaten lives and homes, they can also take out the infrastructure people rely on to receive warnings," said Dave Merritt, Chief Technology Officer and Cofounder of Watch Duty. "Building satellite connectivity into Watch Duty means that people can still receive life-saving information, even when the towers they’d normally depend on are down. This has been a major priority for us to ensure users don’t face barriers to accessing information, and we’re thrilled that network carriers are now making more satellite options available."

This functionality is live now for users with compatible plans and devices, without the need to update your Watch Duty app.

*This page originally included FirstNet as a network with Watch Duty capability via satellite data. FirstNet satellite capability is still in limited testing, and Watch Duty functionality will be in place as FirstNet satellite data access becomes fully available.