Resilient Tactical Edge Networks

Summary

The government seeks a Phase II effort to design, validate, and demonstrate a fully open-source, private 5G network platform for Resilient Tactical Edge Networks. Integrating OCUDU, SD-Core, SD-RAN, and OSC components, the architecture aims to deliver reliable, cost-effective, and scalable wide-area connectivity for commercial precision agriculture and dual-use DoW mission-support applications.

Agricultural and tactical edge operating environments face compounding barriers, including severe connectivity gaps, harsh outdoor operating conditions, lack of in-house cellular or IT staff, and fragmented device ecosystems. Proprietary private 5G platforms from tier-one vendors are cost-prohibitive and designed for enterprise campuses rather than vast rural acreage, while commercial cellular carriers lack economic incentives to provide adequate coverage.

Proposers must deploy and validate an open-source reference architecture at a representative rural site against specific key performance metrics, addressing at least two designated use cases. The technical effort requires mapping use cases to generic performance classes, incorporating O-RAN 7.2x split interfaces and high-power CBRS Category B radios, leveraging Radio Access Network Testing and Evaluation Center (RTEC) testing, and delivering OCUDU software enhancements for mobility, scheduling, and reduced-capability devices.

Key requirements

• Design, validate, and demonstrate an open-source private 5G platform integrating OCUDU, SD-Core, SD-RAN, and OSC components.
• Validate the platform at a representative rural site against defined key performance metrics across at least two specified use cases.
• Map chosen use cases to generic network performance classes and identify associated OCUDU code or feature enhancements.
• Support reduced-capability device classes, including 3GPP Release 17 RedCap and Release 18 eRedCap endpoints.
• Leverage Radio Access Network Testing and Evaluation Center (RTEC) testing activities for multi-vendor interoperability and security validation.
• Implement an open radio architecture using O-RAN 7.2x split interfaces and high-power CBRS Category B radios.

Who it fits

This topic fits entities with technical capabilities in open-source 5G cellular network stacks, specifically those experienced with OCUDU, SD-Core, SD-RAN, and OSC components. Qualified teams should possess practical expertise in O-RAN 7.2x split architectures, radio frequency deployments using high-power CBRS Category B radios, and end-to-end multi-vendor network testing. Experience developing cellular scheduler enhancements, implementing 5G network slicing, and integrating reduced-capability endpoints also directly matches the requirements.