Potential of 5G technologies for military application

Abstract

5G specifications and technologies implementing the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) IMT-2020 vision represent a paradigm shift in International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) standards compared to previous IMT generations. 5G is poised to push the technology limits in many areas, particularly at the radio interface level. With the first 5G rollouts taking place, a lot of attention to 5G is being given by many actors, including the military. As with any technological breakthrough, 5G is prone to significant hype and misconceptions. This paper first provides an overview of 5G technologies and identifies key 5G technology enabling features for military applications. It then proposes a number of initial reference 5G military scenarios where the use of 5G systems or technologies can bring significant benefits to military users, with a view to inform discussions on the topic and to help identify priority areas of investigation. The paper provides conclusions and recommendations to military communications stakeholders including identifying areas of further development.