Shaping the Future of 5G and NextG

The latest generation of wireless connectivity—5G—enables data to travel at vastly higher speeds, with near-instant responsiveness, while supporting exponentially more internet of things devices and connections. And as technologies and systems continue to advance, the next generation of wireless communications, or NextG, is rapidly approaching. Booz Allen is at the heart of public and private-sector efforts to build out 5G infrastructure and unleash its potential.

BrightLabs Senior Vice President Chris Christou, leader of Booz Allen’s 5G/NextG, cloud, and edge portfolio, was recently elected to the executive committee of the National Spectrum Consortium, which brings government and industry together to shape the future of spectrum management and drive innovation. Principal Jennifer Congdon leads Booz Allen’s 5G/NextG program management office and partnership initiatives. Principal Stephen Booher leads Booz Allen’s 5G/NextG engineering efforts, working with Senior Solution Architect Elias El Khoury and 5G/NextG Chief Engineer Andrew Bolka to bring all the pieces together for the next generation of data solutions.

Here, they offer a glimpse into how 5G and NextG connectivity will unlock the future of telecommunications, from mission readiness to interoperability and beyond.

Booz Allen was recently awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy to design, implement, test, and operate a private 5G cellular network and asset tracking solution in Guam. The award marks Booz Allen’s first 5G full-scale implementation in the Indo-Pacific region and will enable the Navy and the Department of Defense (DOD) to maximize mission success in the region by providing the technology that improves communication, logistics, maintenance, and secure operations.

Because 5G fundamentally changes the speed at which data is received and the potential to integrate and analyze it, it is particularly advantageous for military applications in the Indo-Pacific.

“Leadership in the region is focused on deterrence,” Booz Allen leaders explained in Defense One. The goal here is “specifically demonstrating that the United States’ integration of transformative applications for military advancements is so formidable that the prospect of engagement beyond the equivalent of competition is futile.”

To such a challenge, 5G brings what Chris calls a “triumvirate of enhanced performance,” enabling applications that previously could not be deployed because of bandwidth or performance constraints.

Booz Allen is working with DOD to explore 5G-powered capabilities throughout the tech stack, from expanding the use of AI at the tactical edge to enhancing unmanned aerial vehicles and sensors.

“Booz Allen’s experience delivering 5G solutions to the Navy uniquely positions the firm to bring new, innovative solutions to the complex challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region,” says Chris.

To drive competition, strengthen supply chain resilience, and lower costs for network operators and consumers, wireless networks must be open and interoperable. At the same time, they must withstand attacks by cybercriminals and other malicious actors.

Booz Allen has been working to achieve all these goals through its efforts with open radio access networks (O-RAN), wireless architecture that enables the use of non-proprietary components across vendors. In November, the firm’s “Enhancing O-RAN Systems Against Sophisticated Attacks” project received $2 million in funding from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) through its Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund.

“This grant, made possible by the signing of the historic CHIPS Act, is Booz Allen’s first-ever federal grant award as we pioneer new ways of doing business and fostering innovation in 5G and wireless communications,” says Jen.

The project is a joint effort with Virginia Tech/Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI). It aims to strengthen O-RAN security by creating more comprehensive security tests and tools that will be open-sourced to maximize industry adoption and access.

“This grant builds upon our long-standing efforts to deliver secure and resilient 5G solutions across DOD,” says Chris. “It exemplifies Booz Allen’s commitment to help the U.S. government innovate faster and further develop our 5G ecosystem to compete globally.”

For sailors and ships, real-time data has the potential to transform logistics, engineering, maintenance, training, and the supply chain overall. At Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia, Booz Allen has deployed a pier-side 5G network in a lab for delivering data and more.

“We’re equipping warfighters with the tools, technology, and increased wellbeing through strong, reliable communication channels, no matter where they are deployed,” says Andrew.

Booz Allen is responsible for the end-to-end design, implementation, testing, and validation of the 5G lab and test environment. As 5G continues to roll out across the Navy and other branches of the military, defense organizations will be able to leverage such mission-critical 5G networks to enhance communications and support new technologies like immersive training experiences and remote assistance. 

“Booz Allen is testing and evaluating reliable 5G communication networks to equip the U.S. Navy ships and sailors with the necessary technology and tools to carry out critical missions,” says Elias.

When entering into a contested space, knowledge is power. 5G connectivity gives superpowers to the warfighters in these situations, enabling smart sensors, on-demand analytics, long-range command-and-control networks, and heads-up weapons controls, plus the ability to securely share information with nearby troops from other branches of the military.

Booz Allen is turning such scenarios into reality through its next-generation data solutions. Innovations in progress include open data platforms that create a unified, 5G-powered ecosystem and advanced analytics tools that deliver intelligence at the point of need in the appropriate format.

Spanning from the enterprise to the tactical edge, these technologies are based on a federated, open-architecture approach and are designed to be owned by DOD.

“The next generation of 5G is full of exciting new possibilities, and we’re already working to bring them to life,” says Andrew.