Building next-generation defense networks for future mission success

In defense operations, communication is the connective tissue holding every mission together. From domestic military bases to the skies, seas and tactical edge, a reliable low-latency network that maintains connectivity even in remote, contested environments is critical to achieving decision advantage. But for years, contracting has treated networking like an afterthought tacked onto the fine print of RFPs rather than a mission-critical asset.

“Networking has been commoditized, if you look across the Department of War,” said Tang Pham, vice president of the national security group at AT&T. “When we talk about legacy communications infrastructure, the reason it can’t be reconciled is because we continue to commoditize the networking aspects across a multitude of programs and records and contracts.”

To break free of legacy constraints, defense agencies must adopt a new approach to acquisition that treats networking as paramount to success rather than tangential.

Acquisition reform drives innovation

Many current acquisition models have taken a “lowest price technically acceptable” approach to networking, which worked well enough when the primary objective was simply to access the internet.

As capabilities grow more advanced and AI becomes a core mission-enabler, however, a fragmented infrastructure managed by disparate providers is no longer sufficient.

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