The role of Network Operations in bringing commercial wireless to tactical networks

This paper addresses the Network Operations (NetOps) challenges faced when commercial wireless technologies such as 3G/4G are brought to the tactical theater. Architectural solutions with Security and Information Assurance requirements have been presented in the literature through the “generations” of cellular technology (i.e., 3G, 4G, or LTE - Long Term Evolution). One can see that a forward looking view of this technology is quite consistent with the approach that the DoD is moving towards: seamless IP. WIN-T spiral 3 is expected to have these technologies as a part of its infrastructure. This paper focuses on how NetOps can play a major role in ensuring that mission needs are not compromised by integrating commercial wireless technology into tactical networks. We present an architecture to support tactical deployment of smartphones and point to critical areas where NetOps, using techniques such as Policy Based Network Management, can support this architecture. The paper covers three possible Use Cases where 3G/4G/LTE capabilities can be integrated into tactical networks. We also point to some Network Management related vulnerabilities, and show mitigation techniques with NetOps.