According to a new study by General Dynamics Information Technology, nearly 90% of federal agencies are planning to adopt 5G ⏤ but they also face several challenges, including budget and cybersecurity concerns.
The research study, “Enterprise to the Edge: Agency Guide to 5G,” which will be released Nov. 30, surveyed 500 officials from civilian, defense and intelligence agencies. Most have already begun their 5G journeys and understand its impact, with 89% planning to adopt 5G and 44% already piloting or deploying 5G.
“Many agencies are still developing use cases and identifying the enabling technology that will make 5G transformative for them,” said Ben Gianni, GDIT senior vice president and chief technology officer. “Agencies that identify their primary mission outcomes and relevant 5G uses cases will be better positioned to deploy the optimal 5G solution cost-efficiently and with minimal risk.”
The research also found federal agencies plan to use 5G in two general categories: networking and connectivity, and mission-enabling applications.
In the near term, 77% of respondents said they planned to adopt 5G technology for improved network capability. Over the long term, agencies are planning mission-enablement use cases. Command and control ⏤ taking an action quickly with low-latency data processing ⏤ ranks at the top at 41%. Logistics and manufacturing is second at 28%.
“The move to 5G is significant with enormous potential, and it is crucial to keep the bigger picture in mind,” said Shuaib Porjosh, director for advanced wireless at GDIT.
“Investing in 5G is not only an imperative for today, as previous networks like 3G are decommissioned, but it is also an investment in the technology of the future,” Porjosh added. “6G is not far behind 5G, and the sooner agencies can position themselves to take advantage of those opportunities, the more effective they will be at driving value from the technology.”
The study was commissioned by GDITs Digital Consulting Practice and fielded in October with Market Connections, an independent research firm.