Seamless 5G Interconnection Enables Secure Military Communication Beyond the Base

ETRI has developed the nation’s first technology that enables secure communication outside military bases by connecting the internal 5G private network with commercial mobile networks. Pictured are researchers using a trusted interconnection terminal to access the national defense 5G network and analyze real-time quality data. Courtesy of ETRI

A technology has been developed that connects a dedicated 5G network, previously usable only within military bases, to commercial mobile networks, allowing soldiers to securely access defense work systems while maintaining security during training or operations outside their base. 

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on the 28th that it has developed a “5G private network-commercial network trusted interconnection technology” through a national R&D joint project with KT, Woorinet, and Forwiz System. A successful demonstration was completed at an Army smart base this past November.

Currently, 5G private networks are restricted to a limited area within an institution or base, requiring the use of a separate communication network when outside this zone. ETRI researchers developed the “trusted interconnection technology,” which allows multiple carriers to share a single wireless network, enabling secure access to the institution or base’s data network via a commercial 5G network even when outside the private network’s coverage.

Even when the connection switches to a commercial network, services remain uninterrupted as the existing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) is used for authentication and the assigned IP address is maintained. A security technology that protects data between different communication networks was also verified and applied for the first time in Korea, ensuring both security and reliability in the commercial network interconnection environment.

During the demonstration at the Army smart base, ETRI researchers integrated the mobile environment for defense operations with edge computing technology and wireless transmission systems. This verified a communication environment capable of real-time information delivery even in remote areas where deploying wired infrastructure is difficult.

The trusted interconnection technology is applicable not only to national defense but also to fields that require both security and mobility, such as public safety, disaster response, and smart manufacturing. By linking institution-specific 5G private networks with commercial ones, it enables wide-area service operations without requiring network reconfiguration, and it is expected to be utilized in various public and industrial sectors.

Conceptual diagram of the 5G private network-commercial network trusted interconnection technology and service developed by ETRI. Courtesy of ETRI

Park Hye-sook, Head of the National Defense & Safety Convergence Research Division at ETRI, stated, “This is significant in that we have secured connection and interconnection technology that can stably apply commercial 5G communication technology to the defense and public sectors.” She added, “Based on the field demonstration, we will pursue technological advancement and commercialization to expand its application not only to defense but also to the public and manufacturing sectors.”

Experts assess that this trusted interconnection technology will become a foundational technology for future expansions into areas such as integrated communication networks for wartime and disaster response, field command systems, and complex manned-unmanned operations based on defense IoT, robotics, and drones. This lays the groundwork for expanding the national defense ICT framework from a facility-based network to a nationwide defense 5G platform.