Recent News

DOD Focus on 6G Concept to Help Sense Drones

March 19, 2025

An early use case for 6G could give the Pentagon improved capabilities to sense drones in the environment surrounding a network. Full Article

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Unpacking the Fight for the Spectrum Band & Its Link to 5G, FutureG

February 6, 2025

The battle over electromagnetic spectrum allocation has long been a contentious issue between the Department of Defense and commercial industry. This “spectrum war” has only intensified as advancements like 5G and the prospects of futureG technologies hinge on access to mid-band spectrum, a finite and highly desirable resource. For government contractors, understanding this fight is crucial, as it directly impacts projects related to national security, telecommunications and technological innovation.

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Pentagon’s Dr. Tom Rondeau on 2 Recent, Modern 5G Moves at DOD

January 15, 2025

5G networks provide a potentially more covert foundation for military communications because they use a greater range of the electromagnetic spectrum than other comms systems. With 5G, users tap into the millimeter wave in the tens of gigahertz, the Department of Defense’s Dr. Thomas Rondeau told Federal News Network, while futureG (the forthcoming, as-yet-unrealized successor to 5G) is targeting frequencies in the 7GHz to 24GHz range. 

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Federal Executive Forum 5G Strategies in Government Progress and Best Practices 2024

November 21, 2024

5G continues to provide benefits and introduce new opportunities for achieving agency missions. How are agencies profiling a successful 5G strategy and what is the vision for the future? During this webinar, you will gain the unique perspective of top government technology experts: Panelists also will share lessons learned, challenges and solutions, and a vision for the future.

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US DoD places bets on open RAN-based architecture

October 9, 2024

LIVE FROM MWC LAS VEGAS 2024: The US Department of Defense (DoD) and other government agencies are standing behind open RAN as the backbone of next generation communication systems. Dr. Tom Rondeau, principal director for FutureG, DoD, explained government agencies are collaborating with universities and telecommunications companies to develop software-defined open RAN-based networks.

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The Role of AI in 5G Technology with Dr. Tom Rondeau

September 3, 2024

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with Dr. Tom Rondeau, Principal Director of FutureG, to discuss the complexities and innovations behind wireless communications, from the defense applications of 5G to the groundbreaking potential of 6G. Tom shares his insights on the role of AI in wireless technology, the importance and challenges of interoperability within NATO, and the potential of open-source platforms in driving wireless innovation. Tune in to this eye-opening conversation on the seemingly “invisible” role this technology plays in the world of defense and beyond.

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Beyond 5G: Pentagon sets sights on next-generation wireless tech with new projects

August 13, 2024

As it looks at how to provide warfighters with readily available 5G communications, the Pentagon’s FutureG office is concurrently pursuing applied research into new technologies that will serve as the department’s foundation for accessing future generations of wireless capabilities. The office, which is in charge of research-and-development efforts for advanced wireless network capabilities, has three projects underway in its “Beyond 5G” portfolio that it plans to carry out through at least fiscal 2025. Collectively, the programs aim to enhance the Pentagon’s ability to connect and maneuver within the electromagnetic spectrum, Tom Rondeau, principal director for FutureG at the Pentagon, told DefenseScoop.

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DOD’s FutureG office implementing, testing 5G capabilities for military ops

August 8, 2024

The Defense Department office in charge of researching and developing next-generation wireless capabilities has multiple projects underway to give warfighters access to 5G-enabled communications — from improving surveillance at bases in Africa to testing the technology with NATO allies. The FutureG office at the Pentagon has been working to expand the scale of previous efforts to research and test 5G and future-generation wireless network capabilities. As the office eyes 5G deployment, Tom Rondeau, principal director for FutureG at the Pentagon, emphasized that taking capabilities developed through research-and-development efforts and conducting live experiments is key to successful implementation.

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