- Motorola and Nokia to supply UK military with fast, secure deployable network
- Portable system combines radios, 5G, and mesh backhaul for drones, vehicles, and troops
What happened: The British armed forces have signed a deal for a rugged, portable network
The UK Ministry of Defence has chosen Motorola Solutions and Nokia to supply a new deployable tactical communications system. It is built on Motorola’s TETRA digital radio platform, Nokia’s AirScale 5G equipment, and a rugged mesh backhaul from Silvus, a company Motorola bought in 2023.
The technology is housed inside containerised units that can be lifted into the field and brought online in “less than 30 minutes”. Once set up, it links soldiers, vehicles, drones, and command centres into a secure network. Video from long-range sensors can be pulled in, and real-time data can flow back to field units.
The UK has already funded Project Trinity, an £89 million programme awarded to BAE Systems, aimed at delivering resilient battlefield internet through secure nodes. This new Motorola-Nokia system appears to sit alongside that effort, offering another layer of agility and resilience.
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Why it’s important
For the modern armies, information is as vital as ammunition. British troops are faced the threats in unstable regions and remote areas, where building fixed infrastructure is not possible. A network that is fast to deploy, scalable, and self-healing gives a clear advantage. If one node goes down, data routes around it. If soldiers move, the mesh adapts.
This system offers 5G speeds with the rugged reliability of TETRA radios. It is designed to carry the voice, data, and video in the same package, which is helps commanders and units share live intelligence. Drones can send images, sensors can feed alerts, and all of it can reach decision-makers without delay.
There are wider implications. NATO has stressed the need for interoperable tactical communications across allied forces. A portable system like this could slot into joint missions. It could also lower the risk of dependency on a single vendor or system. The fact that the UK is adopting both its in-house Trinity programme and now this Motorola-Nokia solution suggests a layered approach to battlefield connectivity.
From a technology view, this deal is also part of a broader trend. Defence ministries worldwide are embracing commercial 5G technology for military use. In the United States, the Department of Defense has funded 5G trials for logistics and bases. In Europe, NATO has invested in federated mission networking. Britain’s choice mirrors this shift: adapting fast-moving civilian tech to meet military needs.
For Motorola, the contract strengthens its role in defence beyond public safety radios. For Nokia, it places AirScale 5G in a critical national defence system, showing confidence in its technology. For the MoD, it represents another step toward building a force that can react quickly, even when networks are contested or destroyed.
