2019 Defense Applications of 5G Network Technology: Enhanced Mission Capabilities; Leveraging Existing Network Software, Infrastructure, and Hardware; Spectrum; Security; Supply Chain; and Standards

This report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This is the final report of the Defense Science Board (DSB) Quick Task Force on Defense Applications of 5G Network Technology. The Task Force completed an extensive technical review of the state-of-the-art in fifth generation (5G) communications and related technology and offers important recommendations on how the Department should approach adoption of 5G network technology. The study's findings apply to six overarching areas: enhanced mission capabilities; leveraging existing network software, infrastructure, and hardware; spectrum; security; supply chain; and standards. The report provides key recommendations which align with a proposed DoD 5G Strategy to help the Department successfully and securely adopt 5G network technologies. I fully endorse all the recommendations contained in this report and urge their careful consideration and soonest adoption.

This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

The Task Force analyzed 5G technology programs across the DoD, U.S. Government Agencies, Industry and Academia and, based upon their findings, developed a proposed DoD 5G Strategy. If adopted and acted upon expeditiously, this strategy will provide the Department with a near-term plan to ensure a vibrant U.S. research and development (R&D) base for "5G and beyond" telecommunications standards, capabilities and industry; long-term U.S. competitiveness in the global communications and network base; and a safe, secure, trustworthy and resilient communications infrastructure option for the U.S. at home or abroad, our Allies and treaty partners. This report provides key recommendations to help the Department successfully and securely adopt 5G network technologies. The committee believes that the recommendations contained in this report are executable in less than five years, with many actionable in the immediate future. The committee encourages quick adoption of these recommendations, or we jeopardize our national technological leadership in this important sector.