Adoption of 5G mobile communications is accelerating four times faster than previous 4G /LTE technology. Indeed, with skyrocketing demand for high-speed, high-capacity mobile connectivity, 5G has already exceeded 2.25 billion connections worldwide.
To date, much of the next-generation mobile infrastructure currently in operation has been deployed to meet the demand of public mobile network subscribers. However, a growing number of 5G /LTE networks are being operated as private networks. Moreover, it’s predicted that private networks may account for as much as one-fifth of mobile network infrastructure investments by 2030.
With the speed, performance, latency and reliability advantages of private 5G networks, it’s not surprising that a wide range of industries are exploring the opportunities this transformative technology presents. It may be surprising to some, however, that a number of public safety and defense agencies also are exploring ways to take full advantage of private 5G.
For example, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has deployed private 5G networks at more than 14 U.S. military bases to date, and analysts expect more will be added this year. In fact, at least ten countries have either deployed or are planning to deploy private networks for defense purposes, accounting for millions in infrastructure spending.
Likewise, public safety organizations are increasingly employing private networks to enhance the effectiveness of first responders. From the use of drones for search and rescue operations, to remote medical assistance and traffic management for emergency vehicle routing, the speed, low latency and capacity of private 5G offers considerable benefits.
However, as private mobile networks continue to gain momentum among public safety and defense agencies worldwide, this situation prompts the question: Are these networks susceptible to security risks? And if so, what can be done about it?
A Sense of Security
Private 5G networks offer a range of desirable capabilities that allow public agencies to address challenges and boost efficiency in ways that cannot be achieved with existing wired or wireless networks. And for the most part, private 5G networks typically offer greater security than Wi-Fi or public mobile networks, thanks to dedicated infrastructure and robust security features such as encryption and access controls.
Yet, private mobile networks still face some risks. That’s because as the number of wireless networks in operation escalates, incidents of radio frequency (RF) interference also are on the rise. This signal interference can reduce the speed of communications as well as coverage, capacity and reliability, which all have serious implications for national and local security. Moreover, prolonged interference can completely shut down connectivity, making communications impossible
In some cases, RF interference might be unintentional, such as passive intermodulation (PIM) or tropospheric ducting. In other cases, however, interference may be due to intentional signal jamming by bad actors purposefully trying to disrupt communications as a tactical approach.
Consider a scenario in which private networks are used for communication on military bases to control troops, machinery and drones. Devices need seamless, uninterrupted access to the network, and reliability becomes a matter of life and death. Now imagine if this network is targeted by intentional jamming, causing the average communications radius of several miles to be drastically reduced or possibly lost entirely. This type of attack could cut off mission-critical connectivity indefinitely, leaving devices useless, and military safety at risk.
The Value of Safeguards
Incidents of mobile network inference are often random and unpredictable, presenting unique challenges. Even more problematic is the fact that these threats are always changing. Plus, greater access to jamming technology means that exposure to intentional jamming activity is becoming more pronounced.
With a growing number of defense, public safety and first responder organizations using private networks, it’s vital that more safeguards are put in place to proactively protect mission-critical networks. To that end, ISCO works with industry-leading ecosystem partners to offer proven software that automatically detects, identifies and cancels interference in wireless networks, providing an effective solution capable of learning and adapting to defend against evolving threats.
To learn more about the risk assessment of private mobile networks, read the white paper: “The Promise of Private 5G in Defense and Public Safety.”