In the middle of a remote valley in the Pacific Northwest, smoke still clings to the trees after a wildfire tears through the forest. A FEMA team arrives—boots on the ground within hours—but there’s no signal. No bars. No network. What they do next can’t wait. Lives are on the line.

A FEMA team member walks to their vehicle and pulls out a ruggedized backpack and puts it on. Within minutes, a private 4G/5G network hums to life. Drones take off to survey the damage. Real-time video streams to emergency coordinators across the state through SATCOM backhaul. Families are located and aid is dispatched. The mission continues.

This is Nokia Tactical Private Wireless in action.

While this story played out in a homeland response scenario, it mirrors the realities our defense and federal partners face every day—from conflict zones to crisis areas, from border operations and more.

Technology that moves at the speed of mission

In today’s contested, data-heavy operational environment, success hinges on fast, secure and reliable communications. But legacy systems—while reliable in their time—simply aren’t built for the realities of multi-domain operations or modern threats. They can’t match the need for low-latency data, real-time video and seamless interoperability at the tactical edge.

That’s why Nokia Federal Solutions are redefining what's possible with our Tactical Private Wireless—field-proven, secure broadband that goes where the mission goes.

We understand that technology is not the mission; it’s the enabler of mission success.

Our Tactical Private Wireless solutions are built for exactly this: rugged, rapidly deployable and secure networks that empower operators, not slow them down. These are not hypothetical systems waiting for next-gen funding. They’re here. They’re tested. And they’re changing how agencies operate in the most demanding environments on Earth.

Why tactical private wireless?

Picture a convoy winding its way through mountainous terrain. Or a mobile command post leapfrogging forward in a denied environment. Perhaps even a team of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) relaying live threat data from deep behind the wire.

What connects them all?

Multi-Modal Tactical Private Wireless. 

This capability delivers:

• Self-forming, self-healing networks that adapt in real time—no fixed infrastructure required
• Low latency, high throughput performance for edge applications, sensors and streaming
• Encrypted, secure communications
• Seamless interoperability with legacy radios, SATCOM and other defense systems
• A lower total cost of ownership, with faster deployment and greater flexibility than traditional comms solutions

These aren’t bonus features. They are mission critical, and they’re how warfighters stay connected when lives and national security depend on it.

Banshee Networked Radios: Built for the Edge

At the center of our offering is the Nokia Banshee Tactical Private Wireless family, including the new Banshee Flex Radio—our most advanced solution to date.

It’s small enough to fit in a vehicle, powerful enough to create a full-scale 4G or 5G network in almost any band in existence and rugged enough to thrive in heat, cold, dust and downpour. One person can deploy it in minutes. One mission at a time, it’s rewriting what’s possible in disconnected, high-stakes environments.

Whether used by search and rescue teams after a hurricane or tactical units deep in hostile territory, the Banshee platform delivers resilience, agility and control—right when it matters most.

Aligned with the DoD’s vision for JADC2

As the U.S. Department of Defense drives toward Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2)—where land, sea, air, space and cyber seamlessly integrate—communications at the edge become the linchpin of modern warfare.

JADC2 demands secure, interoperable, mobile networks that can operate anywhere, in real time. That’s exactly what Nokia’s Tactical Private Wireless solutions are engineered to deliver. We’re helping connect the dots across domains, accelerating decision-making and enabling operational dominance across the entire battlespace.

Beyond defense: Serving the broader Federal mission

Defense is just one front. Across agencies—from Homeland Security to Interior—the need for secure, reliable, and resilient communications is constant.

From disaster zones to national parks, from border security to Capitol security—our technology ensures no mission is left offline. And because Nokia’s solutions are rooted in proven commercial deployments and open standards, they deliver both performance and long-term value.

Mission readiness starts with communication

When the moment comes—when the call crackles in the dead of night or the sirens sound on a quiet morning—there’s no time for systems that can’t keep up.

At Nokia Federal Solutions, we’re ready to serve.

We invite mission planners, program leaders and technical stakeholders to explore how tactical private wireless can reshape your communications landscape.

Let’s talk.

To learn more about Nokia Federal’s Tactical Private Wireless solutions, please visit our 5G tactical private wireless page.