Fixed Wireless Access: The Path to 5G Connectivity for the Federal Government

The federal government has been on a journey to modernize its IT infrastructure in support of the mission and the strategic initiatives that each executive department has identified. This commitment to modernization is driving the federal government to explore new technologies that can enhance its operational capabilities and infrastructure.

The implementation of 5G promises to provide faster network speeds, ultra-low latency connectivity, and increased bandwidth for thousands of IoT systems and edge devices. Implementing private 5G networks will support mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA) for physical locations such as government buildings and military bases, and it boasts an architecture capable of extending to future use cases. Both military and law enforcement agencies will receive the potential to accelerate decision-making and information sharing for commanders in the field. For civilian departments, the speed at which cellular networks can be deployed will directly impact operational efficiencies as well as potential reductions in cost.

Learning Objectives:

• Outline the primary challenges federal agencies face in modernizing communications infrastructure, particularly in terms of cost, speed of deployment, and flexibility
• Review ways that FWA addresses these challenges and the specific scenarios where it can replace or complement traditional trenching, such as for remote or new-built facilities
• Evaluate the factors that should be evaluated when considering existing, available conduit or fiber or choosing fixed access wireless
• Compare the security and reliability of FWA and traditional wired connections
• Delineate ways that FWA technology can improve the quality of life on military bases for residents and their families