14 May 2025
Ericsson has supplied cutting-edge hybrid WAN connectivity solutions to Surrey Search & Rescue (Surrey SAR), enabling faster response times and better survival outcomes.
This is delivered through UK Connect’s Search & Rescue Network (SARNET), a specialized communications platform designed for emergency operations.
Surrey SAR is a voluntary blue light team responsible for search and rescue missions targeting high-risk missing persons across Surrey and the wider UK. With over 2,000 people reported missing in Surrey annually and deploying on average once a week, the team required a dependable connectivity system capable of operating in any weather and across all terrains.
Ericsson’s rugged R2100 in-vehicle router provides reliable, always-on connectivity in challenging environments. Its dual-SIM design allows it to switch seamlessly between cellular networks or fallback to satellite connections when operating in remote or difficult-to-reach areas, ensuring teams stay connected at all times. This enhances their ability to respond rapidly, communicate effectively with emergency services, and leverage new technologies like drones during critical rescue efforts — ultimately improving outcomes for missing persons.
SARNET was inspired by UK Connect’s experience supporting defense organizations. By adapting proven military-grade technologies, UK Connect and Ericsson have enhanced search and rescue operations’ speed and efficiency. Previously, unreliable communications meant teams depended on paper maps or slow manual coordination when digital tools were unavailable. Now, with Ericsson’s R2100 vehicle routers, teams benefit from instant connectivity, enabling real-time coordination with emergency responders, secure access to online mapping and planning tools, and seamless communication from the moment they arrive on-site.
“We’ve seen how advanced connectivity transforms defense operations, where rapid decision-making and real-time intelligence are vital. Applying this same technology to search and rescue means we can locate missing persons faster, improve coordination, and ultimately save lives,” said PJ Farr, CEO of UK Connect and a Search & Rescue team member.
“Search and rescue teams operate in extreme conditions where every second counts. Technologies like drones and intelligent mapping are essential tools to expand search areas quickly. But these responders need reliable, high-speed connectivity to operate effectively. By combining Ericsson’s vehicle-based connectivity with UK Connect’s expertise and Panasonic’s Toughbook 33 rugged devices, we’re giving first responders the powerful tools they need to act swiftly and save lives in life-or-death situations,” said Mo Taufiq, Senior Partner Manager at Ericsson.
