Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have set up 5G prototypes at Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah, with funding awarded by Advanced Technology International. According to Georgia Tech, the project is testing dynamic spectrum sharing to allow 5G networks and military radars to operate on the same spectrum band.
“Our role at Hill AFB is to look at how a 5G network can share the same spectrum as radar systems,” said Grant Lohsen, a GTRI senior research engineer who is leading the project. “In other words, we’re exploring how to use dynamic spectrum sharing to minimize interference introduced to a radar system from increased activity on an in-band 5G network.”
GTRI is also researching network slicing for tactical applications. This technology will allow multiple independent virtual networks to operate on one logical network while maintaining secure data transfers.
“With network slicing, different classes of traffic – whether it’s higher throughput or lower latency, classified or unclassified, etc. – can be assigned to different portions of the 5G network,” said Tanah Barchichat, a GTRI senior research engineer who is leading the network slicing research. “It’s a big feature we feel that the defense community can take advantage of.”
Aside from testing 5G and network slicing for military uses, GTRI is also investigating ways to cost-effectively bring high-speed broadband to rural Georgians and the agricultural community.
“A homeowner could just have a router-like device and place it in a window, facing wherever the nearest cell tower is and have high-speed broadband in their home,” said Bill Lawton, a GTRI principal research engineer. “That’s an area where 5G can help increase broadband penetration to rural areas at much lower installation costs than traditional broadband services.”
As it relates to agriculture, 5G has the power to transform crop management, equip farm machinery, and make advanced data collection a reality. “The agriculture industry is one of many areas in Georgia that can greatly benefit from pervasive 5G technologies,” Lawton said.
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