AT&T to Provide 5G Capabilities to USAF Bases; Anne Chow, Col. Justin Collins Quoted

AT&T has announced that it will provide 5G and Networking-as-a-Service capabilities to support military personnel in the U.S. Air Force bases, including Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, the company reported on Wednesday. 

“We’re proud and honored to bring AT&T 5G and other highly innovative commercial networking-as-a-service capabilities to the Air Force,” said Anne Chow, CEO of AT&T Business. “We are helping the Air Force optimize the value of our 5G and other networking capabilities at these 3 bases and stand ready to work with them to extend these services across the entirety of the Air Force if they so choose.” 

AT&T will support the U.S. Air Force’s commercial Networking-as-a-Service capabilities as part of the service branch’s strategy to transform and modernize its networking infrastructure. The Air Force strategy will support air, land and cyber operations. 

The Air Force has issued Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Agreements to fund its Enterprise IT-as-a-Service (EITaaS) program. The program will leverage commercial networking services to deliver enhanced speed, security and capabilities, as well as an user experience. 

In addition to 5G services, AT&T will provide a Base Area Network, Wide Area Network, telephony, internet access and secure interoperability with legacy systems. The company’s 5G and networking-as-a-service capabilities will support other advanced technology capabilities such as IoT, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, drones and network edge storage and compute. 

“We think it is vital to test commercially provided services like 5G and software-based networking-as-a-service capabilities as we explore ways to help us innovate and improve our global air, space and cyber readiness,” said Col. Justin Collins, deputy, Enterprise IT and Cyber Infrastructure Division, U.S. Air Force. “We expect 5G service will help us improve the user experience and support a broad array of use cases that can enhance mission effectiveness.” 

AT&T has completed 5G system design across all three bases and expects to complete delivery of its 5G service by the end of 2021.

Join Potomac Officers Club for its 5G Summit on Oct. 27, 2020 to learn about the impact that innovative technologies and 5G integration have on the private and public sectors, the steps the federal agencies have taken to remain up to speed with the rapid advancement of technology, and the future programs, plans and priorities as the nation aligns with emerging technology.

Hon. Ellen Lord, undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense (DoD) and four-time Wash100 Award recipient, will be featured as the keynote speaker. Don’t miss out on this must see event! Register here for the 5G Summit on October 27th.

About AT&T Communications 

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