- 5G private networks have been deployed at over 14 U.S. military bases so far
- SNS Telecom & IT expects more to be rolled out in 2025
- Open RAN is a specific focus of DoD plans
You might not know it, but the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has claimed to be largest enterprise customer in the world with a focus on 5G. But just how broadly has it rolled out the technology? We took a look.
The DoD laid out its strategy in October 2024. Thus far, it has committed $600 million for AT&T, Ericsson and Nokia 5G testbeds and is using licensed, shared and federal spectrum for the private projects.
According to a recent report from SNS Telecom & IT, the DoD’s private networks are expected to account for nearly $1.5 billion in spending over the next 3 years.
So, Fierce asked SNS how many military bases had seen a 5G private network deployment so far. The answer? More than a dozen.
Military bases hosting fixed and transportable (rapidly deployable) private 5G network assets include but are not limited to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (Washington), Naval Base Guam, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (Hawaii), Fort Carson (Colorado), Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (California), Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (California), Nellis Air Force Base (Nevada), Fort Hood (Texas), Fort Bliss (Texas), Joint Base San Antonio (Texas), Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany (Georgia), Tyndall Air Force Base (Florida), Camp Grayling (Michigan) and Fort Bragg (North Carolina), explained SNS Telecom & IT 5G research director, Asad Khan said in an email.
“We definitely expect more rollouts, particularly Open RAN-compliant networks in line with the DOD's recently published private 5G deployment strategy,” Asad added in an email to Fierce.
This would fit with both the current Biden administration’s approach to 5G and that of the incoming Trump admin. Both appear keen to boost Open RAN 5G - even though little of the hardware is actually made by American manufacturers - and keep out Chinese-made hardware, made by Huawei and ZTE. This all ties in with the continued rip and replace funding for smaller carriers that has just been signed into law.
So maybe as well as a tree for Christmas, some troops will get a 5G signal.