Learn more about how AT&T can help the Department of Defense leverage agility and new technologies as it works to secure the nation.
"AT&T stands for ‘American Telephone and Telegraph’ — we are an inherently American company, and we have supported the government at every pivotal moment of this nation’s history. Our job is to be a key part of the apparatus that keeps our country safe and our people free, and we look forward to continuing that legacy."
Jill Singer | Vice President of Federal Solutions, AT&T
Enhancing connectivity at the edge and beyond
As the DoD and industry partners work to implement real-life 5G use cases, future networks continue to evolve — with flexibility as a core capability. Given the often unpredictable environment in which much of the DoD navigates daily, its workforce must have a range of ways to connect.
“The starting point is often the network-connected device. Your cellular device today has so much computing power that, in many cases, all you need is that device connected to a trusted network,” Blount said. “But if you need more security, multi-access edge computing (MEC) is promising, especially for installations or bases where you want to keep your traffic secure and within your enclave while not accessing another network.”
MEC is a private cellular solution that allows sensitive data and information to be managed locally within the internal network at the edge rather than in the cloud or a centralized data center. In addition to increasing security and control over data, keeping operations local reduces latency and improves reliability. Uniting MEC and 5G capabilities can further enhance efficiency.
“Once you have that MEC, you can attach many devices and other technologies to it,” Blount said, noting that connecting IoT devices could provide those devices with enhanced security, real-time analysis, and processing capabilities.
The DoD has also set its sights beyond the earthly edge, with a goal of using satellites in converged networks. The agency is seeking industry satellite and communications expertise to explore how low earth orbit (LEO) satellites might be used to enhance connectivity.
“AT&T is working with LEO providers to show how the information can move around, especially between austere environments, then get back down to a base station or ground station and hop onto a rich fiber network,” Singer said. “We’re excited to show how converged communications can include space.”
The DoD is in a revolutionary era of exploration regarding emerging technologies. Though industry is always on the leading edge of innovation, the government is increasingly cultivating external relationships to speed its transformation. While professional and managed services are crucial ways the private sector can apply its expertise for the nation's good, such partnerships require trust, education, and dependability.
“AT&T stands for ‘American Telephone and Telegraph’ — we are an inherently American company, and we have supported the government at every pivotal moment of this nation’s history,” Singer said. “Our job is to be a key part of the apparatus that keeps our country safe and our people free, and we look forward to continuing that legacy.”
"What they’re changing with 5G is that as soon as they’re in range, they can start downloading or uploading data before they get to the port, saving time and eliminating the chances of a cable breaking."
Jill Singer | Vice President of Federal Solutions, AT&T
5G applications for defense
In recent years, the DoD has underscored its commitment to maximizing 5G for defense through awards and initiatives dedicated to experimentation and prototyping. These efforts require partnerships between agencies and industry.
“The DoD is stepping out, stepping up, and learning the best way to leverage 5G,” Blount said. For example, he highlighted the “smart warehouse” AT&T is delivering for DoD, which was created to increase logistics operations' efficiency, accuracy, and security.
Essentially a 5G-powered private network solution, the smart warehouse enables capabilities like real-time asset management and predictive analytics to enhance the organization, storage, and retrieval of materials and supplies, among other capabilities. It also uses Multi-Operator Core Networking to take advantage of the AT&T nationwide network while still enjoying the benefits of a private network.
Also, for the Navy, as well as the Coast Guard and other maritime services, “5G pier connectivity or ship-to-shore has the potential to be a gamechanger,” according to Jill Singer, vice president of federal solutions at AT&T. Traditionally, ships have had to dock and then be connected to physical cables to transmit data.
“What they’re changing with 5G,” Singer said, “is that as soon as they’re in range, they can start downloading or uploading data before they get to the port,” saving time and eliminating the chances of a cable breaking.
Robotic dogs are uniting the benefits of 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics to help improve on-base and perimeter security for defense agencies and first responders at all levels. AT&T’s network-connected robotic dogs can be equipped with various sensors, enabling them to operate autonomously.
“The robotic dog can go into secure places where it is unsafe or extremely difficult for humans to go,” Blount said. “We’re aiming to make these use cases more accessible to a wider audience so they can also leverage the advantages of 5G.
"Only customize when you must. There are many great solutions within the commercial sector that can be used today. You can enhance the security measures a bit more where necessary, but the solution itself is highly secure for many use cases and works. It’s proven and ready to implement."
Timothy Blount | Director of Technology & Strategic Programs, AT&T
Unlike the private sector, agencies and departments must work on digital transformation around additional complications like federal funding and acquisition processes, making planning a long-term modernization strategy even more challenging.
Furthermore, traditionally, “acquisition processes have been built around acquiring large weapons systems, so it takes a bit longer to get through the process, and there’s a lot more administrative work up front,” Blount said. “It doesn’t fit well for agile modernization.”
Thankfully, these are some of the problems Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) is intended to fix as a catalyst for digital transformation. According to the General Services Administration (GSA), “under EIS, agencies can structure their acquisitions from a single source, dramatically simplifying the process.” Agencies can more easily update legacy systems and implement emerging technologies on EIS.
According to Blount, another strategy that can help drive more agile modernization is to “buy versus build.” Or, in other words, there is no need to reinvent the wheel to create a proprietary product when a proven commercial solution already exists.
“Only customize when you must. There are many great solutions within the commercial sector that can be used today,” Blount said. “You can enhance the security measures a bit more where necessary, but the solution itself is highly secure for many use cases and works. It’s proven and ready to implement.”
It’s all part of embracing a more whole-of-nation approach — leveraging all public and private assets within a nation to gain competitive advantage over near-peer adversaries. It’s a concept that many Senior DoD leaders have specifically discussed regarding the many mission needs across the government technology landscape.
Trust is essential to the whole-of-nation concept. Government leaders must be confident that partnerships between departments/agencies and the private sector will strike the right balance on the risk versus benefit scale.
“Senior leaders will tell you they want whole-of-nation; they want to leverage commercial assets. But when it comes to the folks who get it done, they often don’t have the processes in place, or fear the risks of getting in trouble,” Blount said. “Educating them and gaining their trust will allow them to take advantage of existing opportunities.”
Overcoming hurdles to modernization
“The Department of Defense has unique procurement processes and methods. When they collaborate with us, we bring our extensive capabilities to the table and collaborate to create a beneficial synergy that helps meet the Department’s mission needs."
Timothy Blount | Director of Technology & Strategic Programs, AT&T
Network modernization can be a heavy lift under the most straightforward circumstances. For the Department of Defense (DoD), it comes with layer upon layer of added complexities. How do agency leaders connect a workforce that spans from office spaces to battle spaces and incorporate state-of-the-art technologies to transform garrison areas into strategic battlegrounds to keep the DoD ahead of near-peer competition and the nation safe?
While the DoD works to implement cutting-edge technologies to become more agile and more capable against strategic threats, it must also navigate unique defense mission needs. Partnerships between government and industry hold the key.
As an Air Force veteran and now Director of Technology & Strategic Programs at AT&T Public Sector, Timothy Blount understands the mission from both the industry and defense angles.
“The Department of Defense has unique procurement processes and methods. When they collaborate with us, we bring our extensive capabilities to the table and collaborate to create a beneficial synergy that helps meet the Department's mission needs,” Blount said.
Because of the unique level of movement within the DoD, with portions of the workforce being deployed at any given time, he added, it can be difficult for the DoD to maintain the skilled internal workforce necessary to implement the latest technologies.
“However, with our extensive commercial experience and deep skillset, we are capable of providing managed services centered around those technologies to help provide consistent support for the mission,” Blount said.
AT&T
Director of Technology & Strategic Programs
Timothy
Blount
AT&T
Vice President of Federal Solutions
Jill
Singer
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The Department of Defense is tapping into industry expertise to explore emerging technologies and meet its unique networking needs.
Keeping the DoD securely connected, from office to edge to battlefield
