In 2020, we saw the beginning of broadly available 5G connectivity. Over the next two years, 5G networks reached the mass market, with national coverage by major carriers and expansion to rural areas from the initial implementation in urban centers. With five years of 5G under our belts, we wanted to take a look at how it has impacted government operations.
Disaster Response
Reliable data connectivity, faster speeds, and lower latency--all critical in disaster response--are hallmarks of 5G. More and more, responders are using drones and AI-enabled technologies to do situational assessments before, during, and after disasters. These technologies need the connectivity and speed of 5G to provide the expected value, and carriers have carved out parts of their networks to provide first responders access to it.
In response to recent California wildfires, the Los Angeles Fire Department used 5G hotspots and routers to power their communications. Similarly, after Hurricane Helene led to widespread flooding across Asheville, North Carolina, the town's police department used 5G hotspots to connect their heavy-lift and search-and-rescue drones in providing recon and assessments.
Healthcare
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been a leader in applying 5G for delivering healthcare service. In 2023, the Palo Alto VA Medical Center became the first completely 5G-enabled hospital in the U.S.. In addition to supporting day-to-day mobile connectivity needs, 5G allows the center to introduce new clinical capabilities, including:
- Augmented reality-assisted presurgical guidance, with 3D X-ray vision and CT scans superimposed on patients' bodies to chart a surgical path for physicians
- VR-assisted medical learning, through which surgeons and medical interns can walk into 3D models of human organs
- Advanced interaction for remote (telehealth) caregiver visits
Joint Base San Antonio served as a test site for the Department of Defense (DoD) to look at medical advancements that can be powered by 5G. New capabilities being tested include real-time virtual medical support and enabling remote forces to connect medical devices. This could mean surgeons could get advice or even robotic assistance from medical experts anywhere in the world. Teams are also looking at how to ensure the security of new 5G networks carrying medical data.
Military Training
Building out 5G on military bases supports a new generation of training options for warfighters. With a 5G infrastructure, DoD can enable live augmented and virtual reality sessions that can be manipulated in real time with synchronized interactions among multiple trainees. 5G also allows for prototypes to begin in controlled lab settings and then scale up to field exercises.
The DoD is relying on commercial networks to the greatest extent possible to speed deployment and ensure ongoing reliability. Understanding a degree of customization may be required to meet the mission needs of some bases, the DoD released the private 5G deployment strategy outlining the operational requirements that must be met for DOD bases to embrace private networks instead of commercial high-speed solutions.
For more on 5G use in government, check out these resources from GovEvents and GovWhitePapers:
- Navy Transformation, Modernization is About the Mission (August 7, 2025; webcast) - For Navy IT users, "optimize" means utilizing modern software and services such as cloud adoption; "secure" refers to implementing zero trust and increasing focus on cybersecurity; and "decide" zeros in on data--managing and sharing it, applying analytics, and improving decision-making. All of these are aimed at meeting the Navy's mission of protecting the country at sea and keeping the oceans open and free.
- 2025 5G Summit - What's Happening Today, What's on the Horizon (August 20, 2025; Reston, VA) - Today, more than half the U.S. has 5G coverage, mostly in more densely populated areas. By 2030 it is estimated that more than 90% of mobile data coverage will be 5G. This event will outline the ways that isolating individual slices improves security, define Open RAN and the elements that provide interoperability, and quantify the gains to be made (speed, latency, capacity) by embracing 6G.
- Digital Transformation Summit 2025 (September 17, 2025; Reston, VA) - This event will focus on where digital transformation is today, how it has been used to transition to new innovative technologies, and how it has improved overall performance. This event will also include an international element to hear how other countries have utilized digital technologies successfully.
- Private 5G Deployment Strategy (white paper) - The Department of Defense (DoD) recognizes the transformative potential of private 5G networks in enhancing mission readiness and operational efficiency. This strategy prioritizes secure, high-speed connectivity tailored to military needs, leveraging both commercial and private 5G networks. By emphasizing Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN) and rigorous cybersecurity measures, the DoD aims to build a resilient, scalable infrastructure that supports future joint force operations.
- New Developments and Advances in 5G And Non-Terrestrial Networks (white paper) - The future of connectivity is expanding beyond terrestrial limits, with 5G and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) playing a critical role in bridging coverage gaps. By integrating satellites, high-altitude platforms, and unmanned aerial systems, NTN aims to provide seamless global communication, even in remote and underserved areas. This technology is set to revolutionize industries, enhance public safety networks, and improve connectivity for critical applications like emergency response and maritime operations.
- Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Position Paper on Why These Networks are Important to the Federal Government (white paper) - The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has defined a standards-based Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) framework that enables economies of scale, a multi-vendor, interoperable, continuous service, and backwards compatible capabilities between generations for NTN. It is designed to support any device, orbit, service, frequency bands, beam size/type, natively 5G features, global connectivity, improved quality of experience, and reliability through multiple connectivity across terrestrial and satellite access, with spectrum coexistence between satellite and terrestrial systems.
To explore more about 5G for government, search for additional events and resources on GovEvents and GovWhitePapers.
