Thursday, January 20, 2022

DoD's experimental '5G test beds'

The Pentagon is working to ensure activation of a new commercial 5G network signals won’t interfere with its aviation communications equipment as those in commercial aviation fear that may cause disruptions to instruments used to fly and land aircraft and modify/cancel flights. DoD been exploring the issue of interference at one of its “5G test beds” at Hill AFB in Utah since December, Chief Technology Officer Heidi Shyu said virtually to a group at the Potomac (Va.) Officers Club on Dec. 18. The test bed in Utah is one example of how the military is working with private companies, and allowing access to bases, to develop 5G and test new technology in controlled environments. Allowing the military to modernize bases while partnering with firms paid to experiment and find ways to eventually deploy 5G to the open market is seen as a win-win by the Pentagon. The goal at Hill AFB is to make “sure we can field 5G and not interfere with military aviation systems,” Shyu said. The experiments are testing new tools in the 3.3-3.45 GHz band, with an expected push into the 3.1-3.45 GHz band scheduled for May, she said. DoD is also conducting other 5G experiments on spectrum sharing, including artificial intelligence-based devices that can automate some of the spectrum sharing load. Greg Guice, government affairs director for Public Knowledge, praised DoD’s efforts, but added that solutions have to be both technical and policy-based to work out who can use certain bands of the radio frequency spectrum. (Source: Fed Scoop 01/19/22) Gulf Coast Note: Regional sites with potentially sensitive aircraft include a deployable Navy Reserve squadron in New Orleans and F-22s at Eglin AFB, Fla.  DOD experimenting with 5G tech to avoid interference with aviation equipment (fedscoop.com)

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