The Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) unveiled a year-long prototyping project in California to explore future military uses for fifth-generation (5G) cellular wireless networks. Working with private wireless networks, the DIU will use the emerging wireless networks for critical communications between first responders, including the California National Guard.
Motivated by the savagery of the state’s forest fires during the year (see figure), the DoD saw the need for more instantaneous voice and data communications between firefighters and National Guardsmen, and 5G networks appear to provide the infrastructure needed to reach beyond rough terrain and natural disasters. The 5G networks will provide cost-effectiveness compared to satellite-communications (satcom) networks and performance advantages compared to older two-way radios, with added geolocation capabilities.
A full mobile 5G network is not yet operational in California, but the DIU hopes to establish usable branches of the network where more needed, through carefully applied prototyping efforts. The DIU is partnering with the California Military Department to procure commercial citizens-band-radio private 5G equipment for the emergency deployments. In addition, Nokia Innovations, a business unit of Nokia America, will provide the DoD with enough portable cellular radios to blanket an area under emergency conditions.