READY FOR TODAY – EVOLVING FOR TOMORROW
Circa 2012-2013 a variation to WiFi
known as ‘WiGig’ was tested with a view
to increasing internet speeds. Where
WiFi emits a frequency of 2.4 GHz to 5
GHz, WiGig was designed to function
at 60 GHz. This small change enabled
internet speeds of 40-50 GBps, a massive
increase over the 7-8 GBps possible with
WiFi. At the time, though, technology was
lagging behind the concept, but this is no
longer the case. In the case of WiGig
the change in frequency also alters the
way the signal behaves. It cannot pass
through walls and it is reliant on specially
paired devices within line of sight. This
rules it out in the average home which
functions with a single centrally located
router. Within a headquarters, however,
this could be an advantage. If the signal
cannot pass beyond line of sight then the
security of the information is increased
and the electromagnetic footprint of the
headquarters is reduced. The difficulty
with WiGig, however, is the expense
associated with purchasing hundreds of
devices which are compatible with it. It
would require a full technological refresh
of the ARRC’s deployed headquarters,
which may be deemed an unacceptable
risk given the pace of technological
change and the consequent appearance
of newer, more effective, technologies.
This initial glance at three different
wireless technologies has highlighted
that there is not yet an obvious contender
to fill the requirement within the ARRC.
Due to the clear requirement for a
wireless headquarters, the Field Army
Science and Technology (FAST) board
have approved funding for the first year
of a three-year ARRC proposed project
to analyse all options. Their research
will provide in-depth analysis into the
three technologies explained above and
more, with a view to delivering a wireless
headquarters solution sometime during
2020-2021. Prior to this, however, the
ARRC staff can likely expect to see
experimentation and prototype networks
in the headquarters as early as Exercise
ARRCADE FUSION 2019.
This initial glance at three different wireless
technologies has highlighted that there is not yet
an obvious contender to fill the requirement within
the ARRC. Due to the clear requirement for a
wireless headquarters, the Field Army Science and
Technology (FAST) board have approved funding
for the first year of a three-year ARRC proposed
project to analyse all options.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Captain Jonny Dale is a seven-year
veteran of the British Army and currently
serves as the Communications Systems
Capability Development Officer for the
ARRC. In his previous assignment he
served as the second-in-command of
the 211th Signal Squadron in Stafford,
England. Capt. Dale has led Signals
units in support of various NATO
enhanced Forward Presence (eFP)
battlegroups in Estonia and Poland. A
native of Northamptonshire, England,
Capt. Dale holds a Bachelor’s Degree in
Communications Management from the
University of Lincoln.
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