RTX BBN Technologies leads multi-team effort to demonstrate secure, real-time spectrum coexistence for 5G, defense radar

Core Insights - RTX's BBN Technologies has been awarded a contract by the Department of War to develop a prototype for secure, real-time spectrum coexistence between 5G networks and defense radars, addressing national security concerns [1] Group 1: Project Overview - The initiative aims to maintain operational readiness of critical national security radars while sharing radio frequencies with commercial 5G networks [1] - Current spectrum coexistence tools take tens of minutes to detect interference, which poses risks to both 5G users and radars [1] - The project will be executed in two phases: the first phase involves creating a basic "smart spectrum manager" for rapid detection and traffic shifting, while the second phase will develop a more advanced prototype for reliable spectrum sharing [1] Group 2: Technical Goals and Collaborations - The project aims for a 50% increase in usable commercial 5G capacity, a 20 dB reduction in unwanted radar interference, and a 1,000-fold improvement in 5G link quality when both systems operate together [1] - Collaborating teams include Novowi for machine learning techniques, Purdue University for advanced signal processing, Federated Wireless for dynamic spectrum management, Signal Processing Technologies for interference techniques, and Ericsson Federal Technologies Group for 5G expertise [1] Group 3: Broader Implications - Successful implementation of the system could resolve the dilemma of protecting radars while expanding 5G, thereby enhancing the nation's digital economy and preserving national security [1] - The project will be conducted across multiple locations in the U.S., including Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, and Indiana [1]