The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a request for information (RFI) searching for 5G technologies to support space data transport.
The 5G technologies would help the DoD’s Cross Mission Ground and Communications Enterprise Directorate (SMC/ECX), which is the office responsible for enterprise data transport (SDT). The Pentagon said the goal of the RFI is to provide ECX with info from industry, academics, and Federal research institutions regarding their capability to provide 5G networking, radio frequency access, mobility support, and related big data adapted to the needs of U.S. space systems.
SMC/ECX is looking to conduct market research to determine how it can leverage emerging 5G technologies to support SDT terrestrially, in space, and in the space-ground links. While the Pentagon said any aspect of 5G applied to any aspect of space systems is of potential interest, the current RFI is limited in scope.
The RFI is focused on these potential areas:
- 5G Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output;
- Millimeter Wave bands;
- Radio Access Network Slicing;
- Network Slice Orchestration;
- Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning;
- Trustworthy Autonomous Networks;
- Cybersecurity;
- 5G Internet of Space Things;
- Multi-tenant Edge Computing;
- 5G Space to Ground Networks; and
- Network topology.
Responses are due by March 18.
