Department of Defense and NTIA Launch 5G Challenge to Accelerate Development of Open 5G Ecosystem. The DoD, in collaboration with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), announced today the launch of the 5G Challenge Preliminary Event: RAN Subsystem Interoperability. This competition aims to accelerate the development and adoption of open interfaces, interoperable components, and multi-vendor solutions toward the development of an open 5G ecosystem.
“The Department is committed to supporting innovation efforts that accelerate the domestic development of 5G and Future G technologies. 5G is too critical a technology sector to relinquish to countries whose products and technologies are not aligned with our standards of privacy and security. We will continue our support of all necessary efforts to unleash innovation while developing secure 5G supply chains,” said Amanda Toman, Acting Principal Director, 5G-Future G.
Today, most wireless networks are operated by mobile network operators and composed of many vendor-specific proprietary solutions. Each discrete element typically contains custom, closed-source software and hardware. This industry dynamic increases costs, slows innovation, and reduces competition, often making security issues difficult to detect and resolve. The 5G Challenge aims to foster a large, vibrant, and diverse vendor community dedicated to advancing 5G interoperability towards true plug-and-play operation, and unleashing a new era of technological innovation based on this critical technology.
This 5G Challenge Preliminary Event: RAN Subsystem Interoperability will award up to $3,000,000 to participants who submit hardware and/or software solutions for any or all of the following 5G network subsystems, which must be compliant with the 3GPP Release 15 Standard and O-RAN Alliance Specifications: Distributed Unit (DU), Central Unit (CU), and Radio Unit (RU). Interoperability is open for applications through May 5, 2022. For applications and additional information on this 2022 contest, please visit www.challenge.gov.
About USD(R&E)
The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E) is the Chief Technology Officer of the Department of Defense. The USD(R&E) champions research, science, technology, engineering, and innovation to maintain the United States military’s technological advantage. Learn more at www.cto.mil, follow us on Twitter @DoDCTO, or visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ousdre. (Source: US DoD)
Northrop Grumman and AT&T Collaborate
Northrop Grumman and AT&T Collaborate to Power Next Generation, 5G-enabled Defense Capabilities. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and AT&T* entered into a collaboration agreement to research and develop a digital battle network, powered by AT&T 5G and Northrop Grumman’s advanced mission systems, to support the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Northrop Grumman and AT&T plan to deliver a cost-effective, scalable, open architecture solution that will help the DoD connect distributed sensors, shooters and data from all domains, terrains and forces – similar to how smart devices connect and share data in our everyday lives. This digital battle network is expected to bring together the high speeds, low latency and cybersecurity protections of private 5G networks with the flexibility and scalability of AT&T’s commercial 5G capabilities and offer a critical capability to support the DoD’s vision for Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2).
“Our collaboration with AT&T brings together some of the best capabilities in defense and commercial communications to meet the evolving requirements of JADC2,” said Ben Davies, vice president and general manager, Networked Information Solutions division, Northrop Grumman. “The enhanced connectivity and networking of information that 5G provides are a great advantage in a military environment and will help the DoD in the development of high-performing and intuitive technologies that quickly and seamlessly share data across a myriad of secure networks.”
“Our 5G capabilities can help the Department of Defense achieve operational and information advantage when it matters most – protecting our country and freedoms around the globe,” said Lance Spencer, Client Executive Vice President-Defense, AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet. “By bringing our 5G services together with Northrop Grumman’s powerful avionics and defense systems, we expect to create an ideal platform to deliver DoD’s JADC2 vision.”
The agreement establishes a joint research and development framework to prototype, demonstrate and test AT&T’s commercial 5G networking capabilities integrated with Northrop Grumman’s robust portfolio of capabilities that are at the forefront of military technological advancement that enable the Joint Force. For more information, visit Northrop Grumman’s JADC2 webpage or go here to learn more about AT&T’s work in the public sector.
Lockheed Martin, Intel Sign Agreement
Lockheed Martin, Intel Sign Agreement to Advance 5G-Ready Communications for U.S., Allied Defense Systems. Defense and commercial technology leaders begin new collaboration, aligning innovative offerings to address complex communications challenges. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC) are leveraging their expertise in technology and communications to bring together innovative 5G-capable solutions, enabling faster and more decisive actions for 21st century security. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed late last year expands the ongoing strategic relationship between the two companies to align 5G-enabled hardware and software solutions for the Department of Defense (DOD).
“This collaboration between Intel and Lockheed Martin will help accelerate delivery of secure 5G.MIL® solutions to achieve network effects for our customers that will enable prompt, data-driven decisions by military commanders across all operational domains,” said Dan Rice, vice president of 5G.MIL® Programs at Lockheed Martin. “As security risks evolve and opportunities to leverage 5G emerge, staying ahead of the threat landscape is more critical than ever.”
Intel’s proven 5G solutions are integrated into Lockheed Martin’s 5G.MIL® Hybrid Base Station, which acts as a multi-network gateway for ubiquitous communications between military personnel and current and emerging platforms such as satellites, aircraft, ships and ground vehicles. Additionally, Lockheed Martin leverages Intel’s advanced processor technologies and innovations on network as well as edge, to bring cloud capabilities to the areas of tactical need. This ensures data-driven decision making across air, sea, land, space and cyber domains in support of national security efforts.
“Together, Intel and Lockheed Martin are utilizing the power of 5G to deliver greater connectivity, faster and more reliable networks, and new data capabilities to the DOD,” said Dan Rodriguez, corporate vice president at Intel. “This shows how cloud, network and edge technologies that are proven in enterprise implementations can also bring significant value to the tactical needs of modern defense systems.”
The companies have worked together for a decade and previously collaborated to provide the U.S. military and commercial customers significant advances in secure, reliable, high-performance cloud and edge computing. The companies’ collaboration has already successfully improved the security and resiliency of the communications from the enterprise cloud to service members in the field. In late 2021, Lockheed Martin and Intel, using Lockheed Martin’s 5G-enabled ground vehicles, demonstrated how hardened security and 5G.MIL capabilities in cloud computing can enhance survivability capabilities for military personnel. Further work together on a relocatable 5G Hybrid Base Station prototype for Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations will be leveraged in the Open Systems Interoperable and Reconfigurable Infrastructure Solution (OSIRIS) for 5G network testbed infrastructure, which uses Intel technologies and is located at USMC Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California.
The two companies have also worked together on advanced semiconductor packaging applications for high-density electronics, which led to collaboration on the State-of-the-Art Heterogeneous Integrated Packaging (SHIP) prototype project and will continue exploration of additional opportunities.
Lockheed Martin’s strategic collaborations with industry-leading companies like Intel align with its vision to create 5G.MIL defense and deterrence solutions. These solutions bridge commercial technologies into future DOD capabilities that enable Joint All Domain Operations and Joint All Domain Command and Control.