3rd December 2024: SNS Telecom & IT's latest research report indicates that cumulative spending on private 5G networks in the defense sector will reach $1.5 Billion between 2024 and 2027.

Private 5G and 4G LTE cellular networks – also referred to as NPNs (Non-Public Networks) in 3GPP terminology – are rapidly gaining popularity across a diverse range of vertical industries. The defense industry is no exception to this trend, with private cellular network solutions in the sector extending from permanent 5G networks at military bases and training facilities to satellite-backhauled portable cellular systems for warfighters at the tactical edge.

Alongside their use of specialized, proprietary communication systems, armed forces around the world are increasingly turning to adapted COTS (Commercial-off-the-Shelf) network solutions – especially those built on 3GPP standards – to reduce costs, expedite deployment timelines and support increasingly complex application scenarios. The U.S. DOD (Department of Defense) has recently published its strategy for deploying Open RAN-compliant private 5G networks at military installations in the United States and overseas territories. Supported by over $650 Million in funding over the past three years, several U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force bases already host on-premise 5G infrastructure for both experimental and operational use. 

The Spanish Army and Navy have awarded multiple contracts – collectively worth $15 Million – to mobile operator Telefónica to supply standalone private 5G networks for army brigades on the move, armored systems and helicopter maintenance parks, naval bases, ships and marine infantry units. The Norwegian Armed Forces are utilizing a combination of defense-specific network slices and tactical private 5G networks to support their future mobile communications needs while the South Korean military is leveraging private 5G installations for smart naval base operations, runway safety management and XR (Extended Reality)-based training, including small unit tactics and firearm disassembly/assembly-related education.

Other examples range from the ZNV (Deployable Cellular Networks) program of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) to the ADF’s (Australian Defence Force) private LTE and 5G-ready networks for live and synthetic military training environments. SNS Telecom & IT's “Private 5G/4G Cellular Networks for Defense: 2024 – 2030” report predicts that global spending on private 5G and 4G LTE network infrastructure in the defense sector will grow at a CAGR of 21% over the next three years, collectively accounting for nearly $1.5 Billion between 2024 and 2027. For more information, please visit: https://www.snstelecom.com/defense

About SNS Telecom & IT

SNS Telecom & IT is a global market intelligence and consulting firm with a primary focus on the telecommunications and information technology industries. Developed by in-house subject matter experts, our market intelligence and research reports provide unique insights on both established and emerging technologies. Our areas of coverage include but are not limited to 6G, 5G, LTE, Open RAN, vRAN (Virtualized RAN), small cells, mobile core, xHaul (Fronthaul, Midhaul & Backhaul) transport, network automation, mobile operator services, FWA (Fixed Wireless Access), neutral host networks, private 4G/5G cellular networks, public safety broadband, critical communications, MCX (Mission-Critical PTT, Video & Data), IIoT (Industrial IoT), V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communications and vertical applications.