Commercial Technology Tested by US Air Force

Commercial Technology Tested by US Air Force

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The growth and availability of commercial 5G networks raises interest in military forces around the world. The US Air Force expects 5G commercial services will help improve user experience and support mission effectiveness. 

The Air Force will test out AT&T’s 5G networking-as-a-service capabilities at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. System design work is complete, and delivery of AT&T’s 5G service is anticipated to complete by the end of 2021.

“We think it is vital to test commercially provided services like 5G and software-based networking-as-a-service capabilities as we explore ways to help us innovate and improve our global air, space and cyber readiness,” Col. Justin K. Collins, deputy for the Air Force’s enterprise IT and cyber infrastructure division, said in a release. 

The 5G and networking-as-a-service capabilities will also support other advanced technology capabilities such as edge computing, internet-of-things applications, augmented and virtual reality, robotics and drones. 

In addition to 5G services, AT&T will provide a base-area network, wide-area network, telephony, internet access and secure interoperability with legacy systems at the three bases, company officials were cited by defensesystems.com.

Those efforts are happening alongside AT&T’s work at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida to get 5G going for what is envisioned as a “smart base of the future.”