Verizon Advocates Built-In Network Security

Verizon’s Lamont Copeland presented at the Defense Communications Forum arguing secure military networks should be designed from the start, not added later. He described how Verizon approaches multimodal network design for the Department of Defense, tying network modalities to specific applications and user needs. Wireline covers base infrastructure while wireless supports mobile users, and satellite extends reach to remote locations.

Copeland detailed a recent deployment where Verizon established private networks, wireline, and SD-WAN services together. AR/VR training uses a private network for guaranteed performance, while telemedicine relies on standard wireline. SD-WAN prioritizes traffic and shifts workloads across modalities if one network faces compromise.

Modernizing existing military bases presents challenges due to significant technology debt and budget limitations. Verizon advocates for outcome-based partnerships, collaborating with the government to determine the best solutions within financial constraints, rather than simply fulfilling detailed specifications. The process of updating legacy systems, like TDM, requires incremental steps.