The U.S. Navy plans to consolidate its networks to establish a more manageable infrastructure as part of the $7.7 billion Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) recompete contract, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

Ben McNeal, program manager for Naval Enterprise Networks, told the publication that the Navy seeks to implement a “domain singularity” and integrate one-off networks into the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI). There are around 140 standalone networks including legacy capabilities under NMCI to date, according to the report.

McNeal said the Navy’s implementation of concepts such as zero-trust architectures enables the service to benefit from a “seamless flow” of data. He added that the Navy is working to modify its networks to support cloud services such as Microsoft’s Office 365.

“We’ve framed out a journey that’s going to take us from being cloud-intolerant — not able to consume cloud services at all — to being cloud-tolerant, cloud-ready and ultimately, cloud-native,” said Mcneal. “We’re still just in the cloud-tolerant stage right now.”

McNeal’s comments come as Leidos, the current NGEN-R contract awardee, faces two bid protests.

Since the Pentagon announced new restrictions on Huawei technology and software to make semiconductors, experts have noted that the blacklist could harm the U.S. revenue stream by limiting the marketplace.  

The U.S. has stated that the change is in preventative measures under the reasoning that Huawei's equipment could be used for Chinese government espionage. Citing national-security concerns, Commerce Department officials put Huawei on an export blacklist.

The proposed rule, which is still under discussion in the Trump administration, would tighten the regulation of shipments to Huawei. The existing rules allow continued shipments to blacklisted companies for products that are made overseas and contain less than 25 percent U.S.-made content. 

Under the new regulations, chip makers using U.S. equipment are now required to have a license before the suppliers ship components to Huawei or any of its subsidiaries. The new rule could disrupt U.S. developers’ ability to obtain vital components for its phones, laptops and smart-devices.

Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State, reported that the restrictions will enhance the integrity of future 5G networks from "untrustworthy" companies, but Xiaomeng Lu, China practice lead at technology consultancy Access Partnership who previously worked at Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), noted that the U.S. restrictions could "shoot American companies in the foot."

Lu stated  on Friday that the restricted regulatory change will cause U.S. chip companies to lose significant sales to the Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese and Japanese competitors. As the revenue stream continues to rise, foreign chipset companies will secure new investments, research and development in the next generation semiconductor technologies without the U.S. as a major competitor. 

"It could harm U.S. companies if they cease to be able to participate effectively and push for their preferred options. It also changes the geopolitical and economic risks faced by Taiwan, a major supplier of chips and electronics for many U.S. firms," Lu added.

Intelsat has launched Intelsat CellBackhaul, an end-to-end managed service that will help Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) provide national, cost-efficient and rapid 4G and 5G broadband coverage, the company reported on Thursday. 

“Our service will enable our U.S. mobile network operators to quickly and cost-effectively expand their coverage and bring connectivity into unserved and underserved areas, including many previously considered unreachable or unprofitable,” said Intelsat Director of Product Management for Networks, Gerry Collins.

Intelsat will enable MNOs to offer mobile broadband coverage, including connecting more subscribers, land areas, roadways and IoT devices. MNOs can utilize Intelsat CellBackhaul for network densification and backup coverage to ensure connectivity. 

The company’s CellBackhaul will provide all of the elements an MNO will require for cellular-backhaul purposes, including network-design consultation, connectivity from the MNO's cell sites to their core network over Intelsat's high-performance integrated space and ground network and 24×7 network-operations support. 

Additionally, the company will offer satellite antenna and modem, plus additional equipment installation and maintenance options and guaranteed Service Level Agreements (SLAs). As the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) moves forward with its planned $9 billion 5G Rural Fund,  67 percent of the U.S. landmass could be eligible for funds to bring 5G into rural communities.

Intelsat will support connectivity needs of American farms and ranches, offering new opportunities to MNOs. Intelsat has projected to roll out the Intelsat CellBackhaul service to mobile operators in additional regions, including Africa, in late 2020. 

“We innovate to help our customers connect more people, places, and devices they otherwise would not be able to connect, and we do that on a global scale,” added Collins. 

About Intelsat

As the foundational architects of satellite technology, Intelsat operates the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructure. We apply our unparalleled expertise and global scale to connect people, businesses, and communities, no matter how difficult the challenge. 

Intelsat is uniquely positioned to help our customers turn possibilities into reality – transformation happens when businesses, governments, and communities use Intelsat's next-generation global network and managed services to build their connected future.

Suzette Kent, federal chief information officer and a 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, said there has been an expanded use of digital tools as more federal employees telework due to the coronavirus pandemic and that agencies can now begin to reassess their physical requirements, Federal Times reported Thursday.

“That gives us real data and real feedback — not ‘what if’ scenarios. Federal teams can now reconsider what their physical footprint needs to look like," she said Thursday during a keynote at the virtual Adobe Digital Government Symposium. "But more importantly for all of us, what continued investments we need in our technical infrastructure and what our future road map looks like of digital capabilities.”

Kent said several government agencies have 95 percent of their employees teleworking due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move that has resulted in an increased use of digital signatures. She added that working from home has not led to a drop in productivity at several agencies.

“In the future it will be mandatory to have a workforce that is technology-enabled, constantly connected and where human interactions can occur potentially without human contact,” she noted.