Naval Use Cases of 5G Technology

Fifth-generation (5G) technology is currently developing in mobile networks. The civilian 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard is the basis for this implementation. Higher throughput, network capacity, user density, and lower latency are the main advantages offered by 5G over Long Term Evolution (LTE) and older standards. For this reason, these advantages are increasingly recognized in critical mission and military solutions. However, the 5G technology utilization in military equipment requires a deep analysis of the 3GPP standard, especially regarding technological gaps, security, and use cases. This is particularly important in using communication equipment during armed conflicts. Such equipment must be characterized by greater security and reliability than civilian equipment. Currently, work and analyses in this area are realized by the European Defence Agency (EDA), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), Allied Command Transformation (ACT), and NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO). In the Information Systems Technology (IST) Panel of the NATO STO, the research task group (RTG) "IST-187-RTG on 5G Technologies Application to NATO Operations" is working on this topic. This paper presents exemplary 5G use cases in the navy. We indicate potential advantages, problems, and technological gaps that should be solved before implementing 5G technology in naval systems.