LTE to be tested for suitability by French military

French defence contractor Thales has been commissioned by the French military procurement agency, the Directorate General of Armaments, to produce a technical and operational report on how LTE could be used for military and security purposes.

Thales CEO Marc Darmon said it would test LTE for various operational requirements, including live video transmission, adding that using civilian technology could provide the military with cost advantages. The company has 10 months to undertake the work, which will involve installing LTE base stations in vehicles and tested for its ability to withstand vibration, temperature and anti-scrambling, together with LTE's ability to interconnect with other secure military communication systems. Article