Mark Demers, Karasoft‘s 5G executive, he’s focused on building relationships with emerging and established telecommunications companies to help government agencies deploy secure, private networks wherever they’re needed.
Communications and 5G technology are inherently complex, requiring a wide range of manufacturers, software and hardware to sort through. DeMerse recently sat down with ExecutiveBiz to discuss efforts to simplify 5G procurement and how a successful upgrade will lay the foundation for even more advanced technologies to come.
ExecutiveBiz: What is your role in helping Carahsoft’s vendor ecosystem meet the needs of agencies?
Mark Demers: We have a very open and neutral approach to 5G deployments and our primary goal is to remove complexity for our customers. As a technology, 5G requires multiple different manufacturers to work together to provide a holistic solution. It is very bespoke. That’s why we provide contract access and education to simplify procurement. We work with subject matter experts and executives at our portfolio companies to ensure all the parts and components we procure will work together in the end.
ExecutiveBiz: The Department of Defense is actively developing 5G-related capabilities. What are some of the most interesting use cases you’ve seen so far?
Mark Demers: The biggest use case is the Department of Defense’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative (JADC2), a shared vision for operations across all branches of the military and intelligence community, and 5G is key to making this a reality as a comprehensive, interoperable wireless network system.
We are also seeing use cases around improved situational awareness and some very interesting augmented reality applications: technicians on airplanes and military vehicles could use 5G-connected glasses to access instruction manuals, improving efficiency and accuracy. 5G will also enable remote operation of aircraft, ground vehicles and autonomous systems, reducing the need for physical presence of personnel in hazardous areas.
One of my favorite applications of 5G is the concept of smart inventory management and smart warehouses. 5G connected sensors and RFID tags can help provide accurate real-time information on stock levels. This can help prevent stock-outs, reduce the risk of errors, and improve overall inventory management.
ExecutiveBiz: What can civilian agencies learn from the Defense Department’s efforts?
Mark Demers: Applications such as smart warehouse management could apply to civilian agencies such as the General Services Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical supplies and equipment.
But civilian uses of 5G private networks aren’t always obvious. They may require some creativity. Government agencies and governments at all levels are looking for ways to improve customer service and add future technologies like artificial intelligence. Think about things like connected vehicles, autonomous systems, more efficient transportation systems, or smart cities that enhance communications by creating faster, more reliable networks for emergency responders, improving public safety.
5G increases connectivity and significantly reduces latency. It’s fast. Compared to previous generations and other types of technology, such as satellite, it offers much faster data transfer speeds, accelerating the upload and download of large amounts of data to and from cloud servers. And of course, edge computing allows agencies to process data closer to where it’s generated, reducing the need to transfer large amounts of data to gather the same information.
ExecutiveBiz: What considerations should vendors and agencies take into account to ensure robust and secure communications?
Mark Demers: First, encryption is inherent to cellular technology. This includes ensuring encryption of data in transit and at rest, along with good key management practices. Next, strong authentication mechanisms to verify the identity of users and devices accessing 5G networks. Multi-factor authentication, digital security certificates, access control policies, etc. can limit access to the network based on user roles and responsibilities.
Supply chain security is important not just to the US government, but to the entire United States. Supply chain risk management must include evaluating vendor security practices, adherence to standards, and transparency in product development. There are examples where a US-based manufacturer seemed to be making the right choice until it was discovered they were using security cameras that were not approved by the US government. Supply chains are inherently complex, but it is essential to approach them carefully.
ExecutiveBiz: What innovations do you think are coming up that will shake up 5G plans?
Mark Demers: There are several innovations that will shape the future of 5G and lead us into the 6G generation, one of the biggest being artificial intelligence. AI and machine learning will play a crucial role in optimizing and automating various aspects of 5G networks. This includes intelligent network management, predictive maintenance, and dynamic resource allocation based on real-time data analysis provided by artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence will also help further enhance native 5G capabilities, such as more efficient network slicing and orchestration.
Spectrum management is also a challenge for all cellular technologies. Governments are investing in innovations in spectrum management technologies such as dynamic spectrum sharing, which will help optimize the utilization of available spectrum resources. It will also allow for more efficient allocation of spectrum bands to different applications, helping to improve network capacity and performance in the long run.
As these innovations become applicable use cases and we look to the future of 5G, Carahsoft will serve as a strategic partner to both technology providers, resellers and government partners.
