Contrivian launches Horizon Plus for remote field links

Contrivian has launched Horizon Plus, extending its Horizon range for remote field communications.

The system is aimed at organisations that need communications in locations with little or no fixed infrastructure, including emergency services, government teams, healthcare workers and military units. It combines satellite links with 5G and LTE routing and SD-WAN tools in a field-ready unit.

The launch expands a broader Horizon portfolio that spans several deployment types. At one end is Horizon Go, designed for solo responders and small teams, in a hard case or backpack format for situations where vehicles cannot reach a site. At the other are larger systems for multi-user operations and more demanding deployments.

Horizon Plus can be set up within minutes in remote areas and is intended to support command-to-field communications, video monitoring, tracking and telemetry. It is also designed to work with several low Earth orbit satellite services, including Starlink, alongside multi-carrier mobile connections.

Field use

Contrivian cited the Palisades fires in Los Angeles as an example of how the kits have been used in the field. According to the company, the systems were deployed to restore command communications, provide access to real-time weather and thermal imaging, and support existing handsets without requiring users to change devices.

That focus on rapid deployment reflects a broader shift in how agencies and remote operators approach connectivity. Rather than relying on a single fixed network, more organisations are turning to portable systems that combine satellite and terrestrial links to maintain service when normal infrastructure is absent, damaged or overloaded.

In emergency response, the ability to establish communications quickly can shape how teams coordinate logistics, allocate resources and assess conditions on the ground. Remote healthcare teams and mobile clinics face similar constraints, particularly in areas where network coverage is unreliable and equipment must be carried in by small teams.

Military and law enforcement users have also become an important market for this type of technology, especially when operations involve mobile units, temporary command posts or deployments in isolated regions. Construction companies, energy operators and other industrial groups working at distant sites face the same need for resilient communications and central oversight.

Contrivian said Horizon Plus sits above earlier models in the range by offering broader support for multi-user field operations. The wider line-up includes Horizon, a ruggedised case for vehicle-mounted and fixed-site deployment, and Horizon Pro, which the company positions for the most demanding environments.

Software layer

The hardware is only part of the offering. Contrivian has tied the Horizon line to two in-house software products, Lighthouse and NorthStar, which handle route selection, monitoring and central management across deployments.

Lighthouse measures path conditions and selects routes in real time, while NorthStar provides visibility and lifecycle management across multiple sites. By linking those tools to portable field kits, Contrivian is aiming to offer a consistent operating model across fixed and mobile environments.

That approach mirrors a wider industry move towards software-led network management, where operators try to reduce manual intervention and shift traffic-routing decisions to automated systems. For customers in emergency and remote settings, the appeal is less about network optimisation in the abstract and more about reducing the burden on field teams that may not have specialist communications staff with them.

"The Contrivian Horizon Plus is a huge step for emergency services connectivity, allowing critical teams from construction, remote operations, healthcare, law enforcement, military and government to connect to satellites for real-time tracking and telemetry, even in the most remote locations," said Grant Kirkwood, Chief Executive Officer, Contrivian.

"The mix of hardware, software and global connectivity creates a resilient ecosystem that ensures uninterrupted communication when it matters most, empowering responders to operate with greater precision, coordination and confidence in the field," Kirkwood added.

Tom Daly, Principal Technologist, Contrivian, described the smaller Horizon Go unit as part of a broader deployment ladder across the range.

"The Contrivian Horizon line gives responders the connectivity they've been needing. It's ultra-portable, all-day battery-powered and operational in minutes, built for solo responders, small teams and rapid recon in disaster scenarios," Daly said.

"Contrivian Lighthouse is intelligent edge software, a 'network engineer in a box' that thinks right on site, so first responders stay focused on their mission, not troubleshooting connectivity. With multiple paths active at once, Contrivian is delivering intelligence designed for optimised performance and fleet-wide visibility," he added.

Contrivian, based in San Francisco, sells managed connectivity services to enterprise and government customers. Its focus areas include public safety, healthcare, energy, financial services and government, sectors where communications outages can quickly disrupt operations.