How RadioMobile is Revolutionizing Data Management at the Frontlines of Emergency Response

RadioMobile is a leading provider of end-to-end mobile management data solutions. Headquartered in San Diego, California, their mission is to provide the safest and most reliable technology that helps firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS), and other first responders save lives and property.

‍RadioMobile’s IQ OTA is a hosted service that delivers software and data file updates “over-the-air” via multiple IP networks simultaneously. IQ OTA ensures that emergency personnel have access to the latest and most accurate information, such as maps and system reports when responding to an incident.

The solution they trust to deliver large files securely and reliably over unstable networks—even in the most remote locations—is the Resilio Active Everywhere Platform.

The Challenge

Fire and EMS responders need access to the most up-to-date software and data files, but the dynamic, time-sensitive nature of their critical work can make providing necessary IT support challenging. Emergency vehicles are distributed across many locations, and moving large files over unreliable networks is difficult.

To effectively serve government agencies and public safety organizations, RadioMobile must be able to investigate technical issues in the field and collect log files remotely from a moving vehicle. Additionally, remote software updates save precious time and resources by eliminating the need to deploy personnel or remove vehicles from service. Being able to transfer data both to and from any location is critical for maintaining resilient, continuous operations.

Most enterprise configuration management tools are designed to work over reliable, high-bandwidth LAN networks. While mobile data management (MDM) solutions are built for mobile networks, they lack the ability to move large files or support robust file management.

Because first responders are often deployed to remote and rugged areas that lack bandwidth, they need technology that is active everywhere, rather than relying on inefficient methods, like manual file transfers via USB devices that are then uploaded to consumer-grade cloud storage.

While RadioMobile briefly considered building a homegrown solution with open-source software, the team quickly ruled that option out as they lacked the resources to take on such a complex project. They needed a platform that could disseminate tremendous amounts of data in real-time, and they needed one fast—which is what led RadioMobile to Resilio.

"I’m not one to believe what’s touted in vendor brochures, but after doing a hands-on trial with some of our most challenging use cases, I knew I could trust in Resilio’s technology."Petr Peterka, Chief Technology Officer at RadioMobile

The Solution

The Resilio Active Everywhere Platform serves as the backbone of RadioMobile’s IQ OTA system. This system integrates seamlessly with RadioMobile’s ruggedized, in-vehicle mobile data computers (MDCs) and IQ Mobile Software for MDCs to create a complete mobile data communication solution for fire and EMS agencies.

With Resilio, RadioMobile’s IQ OTA can securely deliver massive amounts of data to hundreds of MDCs deployed across a vast geography—even over unreliable networks. In dire circumstances, no emergency response team should have to struggle with poor connectivity when they need it most.

As seen in the diagram above, IQ OTA leverages Resilio’s peer-to-peer (P2P) technology, allowing files to be distributed efficiently across RadioMobile’s mobile data terminals and preventing the overburdening of server and network connections.

Resilio overcomes extreme latency and loss by enabling data transfer across IP networks including LTE and Wi-Fi, and intermittent connections—delivering data on time, all the time. Through its rugged, durable architecture, Resilio reliably moves data between edge and core, providing unprecedented control and flexibility.

By leveraging the Resilio Active Everywhere Platform, RadioMobile can provide several core benefits to first responders: optimized software distribution and file transfer, real-time map updates, centralized reporting, and rapid problem resolution.
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Optimized Software Distribution and File Transfer

Fire and EMS responders work in unique environments that are untethered and highly dynamic. Their schedules are unpredictable, and they often switch between networks while on the move. 

With Resilio, RadioMobile is in full control of how software and files are delivered to which vehicles at what time. Resilio records the file transfer status and can resume transfers automatically if connectivity is lost. This ensures that emergency responders always have the latest software and data even in hard-to-reach destinations.
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Real-Time Map Updates

Whether it’s tracking the spread of a wildfire or other ongoing emergency, maps convey critical information to first responders—and the last thing they need is outdated maps when disaster strikes.

Resilio Active Everywhere enables RadioMobile to push map updates in real time to vehicles in different locations simultaneously. This allows the rapid movement of gigabytes of data without bottlenecks, so first responders can access the most current information quickly and arrive at an incident fully prepared.
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Centralized Reporting

The advantages of Resilio for RadioMobile aren’t limited to pushing data to remote locations. Resilio also collects data from each vehicle, such as reports and transaction logs for data analysis. This is especially useful in cases where imagery is captured from multiple sources, like drone footage from above and from field footage on the ground.

As the team at RadioMobile puts it, incidents don’t know boundaries or jurisdictions. When a fire or train derailment impacts multiple cities or counties, the centralized reporting provided by the Resilio Active Everywhere Platform allows all first responders to get on the same page and act as a single, unified unit.
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Rapid Problem Resolution

A crucial element of emergency response is the ability to quickly troubleshoot in the field. Prior to partnering with Resilio, if a fire engine or EMS vehicle experienced an issue, the RadioMobile team would have to send a technician to service the vehicle and upload log files manually.

This process was highly inefficient, and would often take days to resolve issues and put valuable vehicles out of service. Now with Resilio, RadioMobile engineers can collect log files and start troubleshooting immediately. And if they need to test a bug fix, they can push a beta version to a select number of vehicles for verification before deploying it to an entire fleet.

Rapid problem resolution means RadioMobile can solve issues in minutes, keeping more vehicles in service and enabling faster response from first responders.

"When it comes to the robustness and flexibility of its technology, Resilio is unmatched. I never have to worry about files being corrupted or not delivering completely. Our team now knows that if an issue arises on the job, we can trust it’s not a technical issue. Resilio has given us that peace of mind.”Petr Peterka, Chief Technology Officer at RadioMobile

The Results

By implementing Resilio Active Everywhere, RadioMobile has transformed how emergency response organizations manage their mission-critical technology infrastructure, delivering measurable impacts across multiple dimensions.

Operational Excellence

• 99.9% reduction in vehicle downtime for software updates by eliminating the need for manual servicing

• Minutes vs. days to diagnose and resolve technical issues through remote troubleshooting

• Zero data corruption or incomplete file transfers reported since the implementation

• Seamless delivery of multi-gigabyte map updates across entire emergency response fleets
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Financial Impact

• Substantial annual savings for emergency response organizations and the communities they serve by keeping high-value emergency vehicles- in active service

• Eliminating costly on-site IT support visits and reducing server infrastructure requirements through hosted services

• Reduced IT overhead for smaller municipalities that lack dedicated technical resources
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Enhanced Emergency Response Capabilities

• Real-time operational intelligence through instantaneous map updates and centralized reporting

• Cross-jurisdictional coordination enabled by unified data access across multiple response teams

• Immediate access to critical software updates and patches, ensuring first responders have the latest safety features

• Improved response times through always-current mapping and navigation data
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Customer Success

As RadioMobile's chief technology officer, Petr Peterka notes: "We have received nothing but positive feedback from our customers. Our mission is to make the jobs of first responders easier, and Resilio is the platform that makes that magic happen."

The platform's reliability has become a cornerstone of RadioMobile's service offering, providing peace of mind to both their team and their customers. When emergency response teams are focused on saving lives, they can trust that their technology will work seamlessly in the background, powered by Resilio's robust infrastructure.

Summary

The combination of RadioMobile's IQ OTA service and Resilio Active Everywhere has created a force multiplier effect: every minute saved in software updates, every vehicle kept in service, and every map updated in real time contributes to faster emergency response times—and in emergency services, time saved equals lives saved.

Experience Resilio for yourself—schedule a demo today and discover how our innovative high-performance platform can drive your business forward. See the power of real-time, anywhere file services, and take the first step towards a more efficient, scalable, and flexible data future.