- The DoW awarded Nokia Federal Solutions a contract under its RAPID project, which stands for Real-World Application Prototyping for ISAC Demonstration
- The project uses Nokia's AI-RAN platform to detect and track objects and protect critical infrastructure from UAV threats
- FutureG calls ISAC a priority for meeting DoW wireless requirements
Things seem to be heating up in the integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) department.
The latest: The U.S. Department of War (DoW) has awarded Nokia Federal Solutions a contract under its Real-World Application Prototyping for ISAC Demonstration (RAPID) project.
The exact dollar value of the deal is unknown. The contract was granted as part of a $50 million total award that was distributed between 11 awardees earlier this month. The National Spectrum Consortium (NSC), in partnership with the FutureG Office, awarded the funds.
ISAC has been billed as one of the selling points of 6G, but operators and vendors are already demonstrating ISAC using 5G networks.
According to Nokia’s press release, its work with the DoW leverages both 5G and future 6G networks to detect and track objects and protect critical infrastructure from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) threats.
ISAC detects threats
Built on Nokia’s AI-RAN platform, the project will integrate Nokia and third-party applications for sensing and spectrum threat awareness. Subcontractors supporting the effort include Nokia affiliates, Texas Tech University, DeepSig, Hidden Level and Future Technologies.
“Integrated sensing and communications provides the opportunity to help protect critical infrastructure by leveraging the existing cellular networks to identify the threat,” said Nokia Federal Chief Technology Officer Steve Vogelsang in a statement. “This project in partnership with Department of War is helping to advance the technology and the ecosystem to make that a reality.”
According to a statement from Marlan Macklin at the FutureG Office – whose title is one of the longest we’ve seen in a while – ISAC is at the forefront of FutureG efforts to use wireless technologies to meet the requirements of the DoW.
“Through RAPID and related initiatives, we are cultivating an open ecosystem that enables us to leverage commercial cellular infrastructure to bolster force protection and defense of critical assets against evolving UAV threats,” he said.
Nokia said the award reinforces Nokia Federal's role in supporting the DoW FutureG’s mission by bringing proven commercial innovation into mission-critical environments.
Fierce asked Nokia how many other federal ISAC contracts it’s won. A spokesperson said the company doesn’t typically disclose customer names or details of individual engagements unless agreed with the customer.
However, the spokesperson pointed out that Nokia Federal is involved in other ISAC-related development and testing activities, including with Texas Tech University and AT&T through CITEI, where Nokia Federal is providing a private cellular network and demonstrating ISAC capabilities.
Read more stories about ISAC on Fierce Network:
Ericsson launches ISAC system for drone detection