EchoStar secures DoD contract extension for 5G networks

© Reuters.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ:SATS) has been granted a contract extension by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for the ongoing deployment of standalone 5G networks at military bases in Hawaii and Washington. The extension, announced today, involves continued work at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island through 2025, with additional enhancements to the 5G technology being implemented.

The contract builds upon an initial award for the Washington site in 2021 and subsequent expansion in Hawaii in 2022. EchoStar, a global provider of satellite communication solutions, is recognized for its role in promoting Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) technologies within DoD networks. The company’s subsidiary, Hughes, is leading the project as the prime contractor, integrating various components from industry partners to support the DoD’s secure and resilient communications needs.

The deployment at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, completed with a ceremony on March 30, 2023, marked the first 5G ORAN network at a U.S. DoD base. This network aims to enhance aircraft readiness by facilitating immediate communication coordination, thereby reducing maintenance and preparation times for missions.

EchoStar’s 5G project employs ORAN infrastructure, leveraging the company’s spectrum and engineering expertise. It includes transport routers, switches, and firewalls from Cisco (NASDAQ:); computing infrastructure from Dell Technologies (NYSE:); radio access network from JMA Wireless; edge cloud stack, and Intel® Xeon® processors from Intel (NASDAQ:); with additional services from Boingo Wireless (NASDAQ:). The networks are designed to meet the National Security Agency’s Commercial Solution for Classified requirements.

Rick Lober, vice president and general manager of Hughes Defense, stated the DoD’s contract extension validates EchoStar’s engineering capabilities and its proficiency in customizing solutions that encompass both terrestrial and non-terrestrial systems. The initiative is part of ongoing 5G experimentation led by the OUSD(R&E) FutureG Office and is facilitated under an Other Transaction Agreement through the Information Warfare Research Project consortium.

This announcement is based on a press release statement from EchoStar Corporation.

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