Samsung works with U.S.

military to prototype new high-speed 5G network

Super-fast mobile broadband isn’t just a concern for data-hungry consumers who want to take in droves
of content on their mobile devices. According to a recent report from Defense Systems, the U.S. military
also has designs on how it can make use of 5G connectivity to improve operations and is so high on the
technology that it is partnering with Samsung to help develop a 5G network.

Defense Systems says that the 5G network could be capable of delivering speeds up to 1GB per second,
which is on par with a some of the speeds that fiber optic networks are offering to customers in major
metropolitan areas. Defense Systems have vested interest in the development of 5G technology.

What are the defense implications of 5G technology?

In an interview with Defense Systems, the Department of Defense’s former Chief Information Officer
Terry Halvorsen, who now works for Samsung, laid out some of the ways in which 5G will benefit
military operations. “This brings extremely high speed and low latency,” said Halvorsen. “You have large
bandwidth so you can use higher levels of encryption without compromising connection speed,” he
added, as the network will implement small antennas that can receive in broadcast in multiple directions
over line-of-sight, which will result in the fast speeds.

These antennas are so mobile that they could even be mounted on aerial drones. This has obvious
military application as a communications support mechanism for operations in sensitive areas. But the
technology could also be a boon in disaster relief situations, as well. In situations where traditional
networks are decimated by earthquakes and hurricanes, drones could be used to roll out a small 5G
communications network on the island without needing much in the way of major infrastructure.

What other uses might 5G have?

U.S. military aren’t the only organization that are investing in the rollout of new 5G networks. Under the
Obama administration, the White House pledged some $400 million as part of its Advanced Wireless
Research Initiative--a program headed by the National Science Foundation--to help bring 5G networks to
fruition. Like others, the government sees many potential uses for the technology, hence the
investments.

First responders could use these networks to get real-time video feeds to get important data from the
scene of an incident via drones and other existing infrastructure. In mass injury situations, this
technology could provide key information to doctors about the specific nature of patient injuries before
the wounded reach the hospital, shortening overall response times for treatment.

Autonomous vehicles would also be big users of 5G networks, using them to communicate essentially in
real-time with data centers about traffic delays, road closures, and other important information. With
companies like Waymo already testing their vehicles on public roads, the market is already there for this
technology and manufacturers are eagerly awaiting faster network access.

The average consumer would see a lot of benefit from a new network rollout as well. With the speeds
projected under 5G, a smartphone users could download a full length HD movie in about five seconds,
which is about 100 times faster than 4G speeds. In the end, the massive speed could actually lead to less
stress on these networks from smartphone users, because they won’t be under a sustained load due to
longer download times.

When can we expect to get 5G?

It’s unlikely that commercial rollout of 5G technology will happen within the next 18 months. Most
analysts predict the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be the big event that serves as the backdrop for 5G’s
debut. Of course, with the military’s involvement, it’s likely that defense forces will get access to the
technology sooner.

Reference:
Defense Systems, https://defensesystems.com/articles/2017/11/02/samsung-5g-halvorsen.aspx,
Published 02/Nov/2017