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Reported deployment

Reported DoD standalone 5G prototype network at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

A Hughes Network Systems (EchoStar) case study; outcomes are vendor-reported and not independent measurements.

Reviewed Sep 30, 20267 sourced facts
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Details

Organization
U.S. Department of Defense, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Industry
defense (military base operations)
Region
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
Current operating status
Prototype network deployed and operated under DoD 5G experimentation; contract extended through 2025 (March 2024 release)
Project date
Hawaii expansion awarded 2022; extended through 2025

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Overview

Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar company, leads a Department of Defense (DoD) standalone 5G prototype network at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) in Hawaii, an expansion awarded in 2022 that builds on its testbed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington.[1] Hughes describes the Hawaii network as a smaller, self-contained, transportable tactical version of the Whidbey Island design, intended for small groups of personnel in the field, and says both Navy sites became operational in 2023.[2] In March 2024 the DoD extended the work at both bases through 2025 under its 5G experimentation program.[1] Separately, Verizon announced a DoD award in September 2022 to build a private 5G pilot in an aircraft maintenance hangar at the same base with Ericsson equipment.[3]

At a glance

Organization
U.S. Department of Defense, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; Hughes describes the users as U.S. Navy.[1][2]
Location
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. No specific facility is named.[1]
Date reported
Expansion to Hawaii awarded in 2022; contract extension announced March 18, 2024.[1] Hughes said in April 2024 that the Hawaii site became operational in 2023.[2]
Spectrum
EchoStar's 5G spectrum;[1] Hughes says DISH provided low- and mid-band spectrum for both Navy sites.[2] Use of CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) is not publicly stated.
Technology
Standalone 5G built to O-RAN standards in a self-contained, transportable tactical configuration,[2] with Zero Trust Architecture and satellite connectivity for resilience.[1]
Scale as reported
Not publicly stated. Hughes describes it as smaller than the Whidbey Island network and suited to small groups.[2]
Vendors and roles
Hughes Network Systems: prime contractor. EchoStar/DISH: spectrum and engineering services.[1][2] Hughes lists Cisco, Dell Technologies, JMA Wireless, Intel, and Boingo Wireless as suppliers to the overall project but does not say which components are used at the Hawaii site.[1]
Status
Pilot: a DoD prototype network, extended through 2025 as of March 2024. Hughes and Boost Mobile reported a 2024 demonstration linking it with Whidbey Island.[1][4] We found no later public update.

How the network is used

  • Broadband for smaller groups of personnel at field locations, using a network that can be moved, according to Hughes.[2]
  • Evaluating 5G applications and satellite-backed network resilience for increasingly automated base operations.[1]
  • A 2024 demonstration tested remote network orchestration, wide area network resiliency, and secure radio access network sharing between the Whidbey Island network and a base in Hawaii.[4]

Reported results

As reported by the sources below; not independently verified.

  • No measured results were published for the Hawaii site.[1][2]
  • Hughes and Boost Mobile said the 2024 demonstration confirmed that users could keep secure access to applications when moving between bases, Via Satellite reported. This is a vendor statement.[4]

Timeline

  1. Hughes and Boost Mobile announce a demonstration linking the Whidbey Island network with a base in Hawaii.[4]

  2. EchoStar announces a DoD contract extension through 2025 for the JBPHH and Whidbey Island networks.[1]

  3. The Hawaii site becomes operational, according to Hughes.[2]

  4. Announcing its Whidbey Island award, Hughes describes the work as part of DoD 5G experimentation at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.[6]

  5. The DoD awards Hughes an expansion of the program to Hawaii.[1]

  6. The DoD names Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam a Tranche 2 5G test bed focused on aircraft mission readiness.[5]

How to interpret this record

This record keeps the source's anonymous customer label and reported status. A case study does not establish current operation, reproducible performance, or independent verification.

Sources

Researched Oct 1, 2026. Manufacturer and vendor statements are their claims, not independent tests.

  1. DoD Extends Contract for ORAN-based Private 5G Networks through 2025 — Hughes Network Systems (EchoStar), Mar 18, 2024. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  2. Hughes Private Standalone 5G network increases efficiency to transform US Navy operations — Hughes Network Systems, Apr 15, 2024. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  3. Verizon to build private 5G network in an aircraft hangar at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam — Verizon via GlobeNewswire (Yahoo Finance), Sep 22, 2022. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  4. Hughes Hails Success of Recent Private 5G Demo for US Navy — Via Satellite, Aug 29, 2024. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  5. Pentagon names seven new bases for 5G test beds — C4ISRNET, Jun 4, 2020. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  6. Hughes Selected to Deploy Private 5G Network for DoD — Hughes Network Systems, Mar 21, 2022. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.

Every detail in the table at the top comes from these sources. Open the source details for each fact’s publisher, evidence type, date, and where it appears.

Source details (7)
SOURCEOrganization

U.S. Department of Defense, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam

Hughes Network Systems (EchoStar) ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: First paragraphChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEOperating status

prototype network deployed and operated under DoD 5G experimentation; contract extended through 2025 (March 2024 release)

Hughes Network Systems (EchoStar) ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Quote from Rick Lober, Hughes DefenseChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEProject date

Hawaii expansion awarded 2022; extended through 2025

Hughes Network Systems (EchoStar) ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: First paragraphChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEReported use case

evaluating 5G applications for increasingly automated base operations and satellite-backed resilience

Hughes Network Systems (EchoStar) ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Quote from Dr. Rajeev Gopal, HughesChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEVendors Named

Hughes (prime contractor); EchoStar spectrum

Hughes Network Systems (EchoStar) ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Paragraph 3Checked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated