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Italy, Spain, Turkey Collaborate on Military 5G Development

Italy, Spain, Turkey Collaborate on Military 5G Development

Italy, Spain and Turkey have launched the Multinational Collaboration on 5G project under the NATO Communications and Information Agency to advance military capabilities using 5G and its future iterations.

The founding nations signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize their commitment, with an initial work program approved in October 2024. NCIA, the organization in charge of NATO’s communications infrastructure, said the project will focus on improving interoperability and implementing critical 5G features for multinational military use.

5G-Based Military Communication

The project’s initial efforts include hosting a military 5G conference and initiating technical work in three main areas: awareness and influence, capability development, and security. The project will also set up a military 5G community to facilitate information sharing, align requirements and encourage innovation.

By working with industry partners and academia, MN5G member states will develop 5G-based military communication and application systems while addressing standardization and security concerns in multinational military contexts.

5G Experimentation

NCIA said the MN5G project remains open to other NATO nations, with several expressing interest in observer status and potential future membership.

In line with this initiative, Gen. Philippe Lavigne, head of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, recently met with Nokia executives to discuss 5G’s growing role in military operations, its advantages over previous cellular platforms and new possibilities in multidomain operations.

The command, responsible for the alliance’s warfare capability development, also announced an experimentation event in Latvia to assess 5G’s drone integration and other military applications, discuss sustainability challenges linked to higher power demand, and foster collaboration between NATO nations and industry.

POC - 2025 5G Summit

Learn more about the transformative impact of 5G on defense and government operations at the Potomac Officer Club’s 2025 5G Summit. The Feb. 27 conference will explore key topics such as 5G at the edge and 5G-powered warfighting capabilities. Register here.

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