NextGen Military and Government Networks will be Managed and Multi-transport

Nowhere is security and reliability more important than in military and government networks. To optimize networks for defense capabilities, users are increasingly relying on integrated managed services powered by automation.

Based on this, we foresee more activity in 2024 and beyond focused on building and deploying multi-transport networks. For example, the USSF is building and testing the first elements of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture which will rely on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Last year, we were waiting to see how commercial LEO systems would be integrated into this architecture. Over the last few months, we are seeing this progress including awards of proliferated LEO (pLEO) contracts to commercial providers like Hughes.

We believe that these pLEO developments will lead to greater use of multiple commercial transport capabilities. DoD’s experimentation with terrestrial LEO will become a good match for 5G NTN networks which also falls under the pLEO umbrella. Various 5G demonstrations including the 5G network we are supporting at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, WA, are showing DoD service members how automated network management of multi-transports including 5G, GEO and LEO resources can provide much-needed reliability across the DoD’s global network.

We are also seeing this shift toward multi-transport networks in our work with government agencies. As civilian government leaders explain their core objectives, needs and performance requirements in procurement-driven Statements of Objectives, they recognize that they can take advantage of emerging technologies and capabilities, and not get locked into one specific technology, solution, or vendor. Agencies have a unique opportunity to explore and deploy a diverse range of networking technologies, including LEO, GEO and 5G, to meet the evolving needs of their users and branch locations.