Experimenting with 4G LTE for area coverage and the envisioned C2 deployments over 5G

Abstract

The evolution of the Next Generation Network Technologies such as the Fourth Generation (4G) and Fifth Generation (5G), have made them an adoption option in Command and Control (C2) tactical deployments for wireless communication network access. Features promised by 5G (low latency, high mobility, ubiquitous coverage area) will be enablers of services and capabilities such as Machine to Machine (M2M) communication, Internet of Things (IoT), sensory networks, self-healing networks, flexible spectrum management, massive machine communications, mission critical operations. These services and capabilities present opportunities for C2 such as granular monitoring of nodes (e.g. monitoring troop heart rate), convoy vehicle communication, realistic training through simulations, sensor driven environment. This paper presents results of experimenting with a LTE system in providing broadband area coverage for C2 deployment environments (bushveld, inner city and maritime) for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Multimedia services (voice, video, and data) and distance were used as performance measure metrics. Using a 400 MHz portable LTE system, a 10 km and 11 km radii coverage area was achieved in Line of Sight (LOS) for bushveld and maritime, respectively. While an 8 km radius was achieved in inner city urban environment with Non-LOS. The opportunities and the challenges of adopting these network technologies (4G and beyond) are also discussed, including the envisioned C2 deployments over 5G.