Defense Science Board Task Force: Defense Applications of 5G Network Technology

Abstract

Emerging 5G network technology offers the Department of Defense (DoD) access to advanced communications and networking with much improved data rates, lower latency, and significant potential energy savings over existing 4G networks. The integration of 5G technology could give DoD an opportunity to adopt at lower cost the benefits of these systems for operational needs. Improved commercially available 5G technology offers DoD many operational benefits but also presents new challenges in cyber security, spectrum management and network optimization. The Defense Science Board (DSB) Quick Task Force (TF) on Defense Applications of 5G Network Technology was established to define a path for potential DoD 5G adoption that mitigates supply chain risk, establishes spectrum co-existence procedures and revamps existing communication infrastructure. The DSB report on Defense Applications of 5G Network Technology concludes that there can be significant benefits from using 5G technology in the DoD but inherent supply chain, cyber, Radio Frequency (RF)/Electronic Warfare (EW) and virtual/physical vulnerabilities create significant mission risk. Any deployment of 5G in DoD infrastructure must be measured against mission criticality and acceptable risk. This executive summary reviews TF findings and recommendations considered necessary for a successful 5G DoD deployment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 24, 2019
Accession Number
AD1078719

Entities

People

  • Craig Fields

Organizations

  • Defense Science Board

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Cyber
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • 4G Wireless Networks
  • 5G Wireless Networks
  • Acquisition
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Communication Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Engineering
  • Infrastructure
  • Intelligence Community (United States)
  • Internet Of Things
  • Military Research
  • Network Architecture
  • Networks
  • Standards
  • Strategic Analysis
  • Supply Chain
  • Task Forces

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Technology Areas

  • 5G
  • 5G - DoD 5G Program
  • 5G - Internet of Things
  • Cyber
  • Microelectronics