Navy eyes 5G and multi-access edge computing to exchange data with unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)

DALLAS – Experts from wireless communications expert AT&T will install 5G and multi-access edge computing (MEC) equipment at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., to help the military explore ways to use the technologies to enhance national security. Mobile World Live reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

5 Oct. 2021 -- Chris Smith, vice president of civilian and shared services at AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet, told Mobile World Live that Naval Postgraduate School officials want to use 5G and MEC to connect unmanned vehicles in the air, on the ground, and under the sea.

AT&T is deploying millimeter wave spectrum, citing research this can detect underwater sonar signals as they reach the surface. Smith explains that 5G could provide good connectivity to enable submarines to transmit information without surfacing.

AT&T also will also install a 4G- and 5G-compatible mobile tower at the Naval Postgraduate School to co-locate edge compute resources to help Navy researchers process information on-site not only for advanced communications, but also for virtual- and augmented reality services.

Related: U.S. Space Force reaches out to industry for companies able to adapt 5G wireless networking to space uses

Related: Enabling technologies falling into place for a revolution in space-based sensors and fast 5G networking

Related: What 5G means to the military

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics