Indiana Expands SAFE-T Network with Motorola Solutions, Eliminating Dead Zones for Vigo County First Responders

Vigo County transitions to simulcast radio system in largest statewide expansion since 2019

Indiana has taken a significant step forward in public safety communications, with Vigo County officials and the Indiana Integrated Public Safety Commission (IPSC) announcing a landmark three-year agreement to expand the state's first responder communication infrastructure. The expansion, which adds three new radio towers to the statewide SAFE-T (Safety Acting for Everyone Together) network, represents the largest growth of the system since 2019.

Combined with two additional towers being added in Jay and Wayne counties, the project brings Indiana's total statewide tower count from 191 to 197, substantially increasing coverage and interoperability for police, fire, and EMS agencies across the state.

A Critical Step for First Responder Communications

At the heart of the Vigo County expansion is the transition to Indiana's 10th simulcast radio system — a configuration in which the same signal is broadcast simultaneously across multiple towers on a single frequency. This architecture eliminates coverage dead zones and delivers seamless, high-performance communications for first responders operating in basements, rural terrain, and high-density urban environments alike.

Motorola Solutions, a key technology partner in the project, underscored the stakes involved.

"In emergencies, a reliable connection is a lifeline," the company on social media stated. "We are proud to work with Vigo County and the Indiana Integrated Public Safety Commission on the largest expansion of the statewide SAFE-T network since 2019. By adding three new towers, Vigo County is transitioning to a simulcast radio system using TDMA technology — doubling capacity and eliminating dead zones for police, fire and EMS."

State Leadership Backs the Investment

Governor Mike Braun praised the initiative as a model for responsible public safety investment.

"I am grateful that Vigo County is making this significant investment into public safety," he said. "Reliable, statewide coverage of our communications systems for first responders is crucial to ensuring the safety of Hoosiers."

IPSC Executive Director Michael Watkins echoed that sentiment, pointing to the Vigo County project as illustrative of a broader statewide modernization effort. "The work being done in Vigo County is a perfect example of the progress we are making across the state," he said. "From hardware refreshes to the exploration of TDMA technology, every update is designed with one goal: ensuring first responders have the tools they need to protect Hoosiers."

TDMA Technology Doubles Network Capacity

Among the most notable technical elements of the expansion is the integration of Phase 2 TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) technology, which effectively doubles the number of available talk paths on the network. This capacity increase is part of a wider IPSC pilot programme designed to future-proof Indiana's public safety infrastructure against growing demand.

Complementing the TDMA pilot, IPSC is simultaneously advancing system-wide hardware refresh programmes and enhanced site backhaul redundancy to ensure network continuity during severe weather events or equipment failures — priorities that reflect the operational realities first responders face.

Interoperability at the Core

The SAFE-T network is provided at no cost to first responders, and its expansion is designed above all to strengthen interoperability — enabling agencies at the local, state, and federal levels to communicate seamlessly during large-scale incidents and multi-agency responses. The Vigo County enhancements ensure the county remains a robust and reliable node within Indiana's broader public safety network.

Construction is expected to be completed over the next three years, with the upgrades progressively enhancing coverage as each new tower comes online.