First US Military Deployment of 4G

As the world is slowly switching over from 3G to 4G LTE, and providers around the country are scrambling to deploy their latest generation network in as many cities as possible, now we hear that the US military is the latest entity to embrace this higher speed, and deploy a brand new network for its own staff to take advantage of the features offered by the latest generation of cell phones. According to a recent announcement, it seems like the Department of Defense has picked Oceus Networks to deploy a pilot program for the Navy.

Oceus Networks is a company that provides its own version of 4G using its Xiphos solution, which are ruggedized LTE base stations that the Navy can deploy where it needs them, including onboard ships. This is a very interesting solution for an organization which may have to operate in new and unfamiliar territory.

The pilot aims at seeing if 4G networks can be deployed in a fairly fast way to places where the Navy and other DoD departments may be in need of high speed communications. The pilot program will be conducted over the next year for the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group, based in Norfolk. The purpose of the new network will be to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for intra-ship communication, and eventually inter-ship as well.

Douglas C. Smith, the CEO of Oceus Networks, said “This pilot is a result of more than two years of work with the Navy, and we're honored to be partnering with the Navy to bring these new capabilities into operational deployment for the warfighter.”

The speed provided by LTE can be over 10 times higher than current 3G networks, so this may give a big advantage for data intensive applications, like real time video monitoring or transmission of large files. The Xiphos system can be installed inside of ships, on planes, UAVs, and on the ground, wherever the Navy needs it.

Oceus Networks has been working with network deployment for many years, and has partnered with the government before, bringing their unique solutions to many places where traditional equipment wouldn't work. The company is privately held and headquartered in Reston, Virginia.