A few weeks ago, a NIWC Atlantic team spent a few days at the Sullivan’s Island facility testing communication devices over open water. Using a static tropospheric scatter (troposcatter) system located at the main facility and a 27-inch antenna mounted to a moving 35-foot boat, the team tested how far a 5G signal from the shore could be extended out to sea.

“A 5G cell phone signal can only be received about 13-15 miles offshore, but using this combination of technology we anticipate that we will be able to communicate about 40 miles offshore before losing a signal,” said Michael Massenet NIWC Atlantic assured communications engineer.

This exercise is the first of several to come over the next year, with the goal of finding more stable, further reaching and resilient ways of communicating in degraded environments.

“By increasing the 5G range using troposcatter, Sailors will still be able to communicate with shore in a communications degraded environment.  They will also have more control over electromagnetic output for ships, which makes it harder for the enemy to detect us,” said Massenet.