The Armed Forces, connected for the first time by 5G without the need for civilian providers

• This communications milestone, the result of public-private collaboration, provides user services via the internet using its own national infrastructure

The Spanish Armed Forces (FAS) 5G nodes are connected for the first time via the SPAINSAT satellite thanks to a public-private collaboration project that provides user services using its own infrastructure without the need to access the internet via civilian providers.

These 5G bubbles have been deployed on the Castilla ship, in the case of the Navy, at the Sierra del Retín Maneuvering Ground, belonging to the Army, and at the Retamares base, for the Air and Space Force.

The connection of these bubbles via the SPAINSAT satellite has been configured with higher transmission speeds than those normally used. In this way, user services are provided with their own national infrastructure without the need for an internet connection, which is normally provided by civilian companies.

This communications milestone is the result of joint work by military units and technical support provided by the companies Hisdesat, Telefónica, Accenture, XRF, MENPRO, and COAS. Thanks to this collaboration, users of mobile devices connected to 5G have been provided with command and control services, calls, and video calls in a completely transparent manner.

Collaboration between companies and the Armed Forces (FAS) in this type of experimental exercise helps companies to better understand military requirements and gives the military a better understanding of new technologies.

The final test of the project was carried out during the LIVEX phase of the JFX25 exercise, held at the El Retín Maneuvering Ground (Cadiz) and led by the Joint Cyber Command (MCCE).

This project is part of the FAS's commitment to public-private collaboration, which is the basis for national technological development.