The Head of Economic Affairs of the Defence Staff has awarded Telefónica the technical assistance services contract for the 5G Cyber Defence Centre of the Joint Cyberspace Command, for a total value of 8 million euros including taxes, as stated on the public sector contracting portal.
The tender sets an initial period of four years, extendable for an additional year, with the aim of reinforcing the centre's activity through specialized services that include infrastructure planning, network configuration, deployment of security measures, and integration of emerging technologies, in addition to the support, maintenance, and management of the command's private 5G network.
The contract also includes the analysis of connectivity and security needs, advice on equipment selection, staff training, and the drafting of technical reference documentation.
The work will be carried out mainly at the Retamares Base, in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), where the facilities of the Joint Cyberspace Command are located, combining on-site and remote profiles as determined by the contract manager and without additional costs for interventions outside normal working hours.
The technological environment on which the services will be provided consists of 5G user equipment, a platform with network cores and nodes from different manufacturers, its own telecommunications infrastructure, a cybersecurity platform with event management and response automation systems, and an artificial intelligence laboratory aimed at enhancing cyber defence capabilities.
The services will be structured through a pool of hours distributed in five areas: project management; operation and maintenance of 5G cores and radio access; cyber defence (Red, Blue, and Purple teams); infrastructure (configuration and updating of physical and logical architectures); and research, development, and innovation in next-generation mobile and wireless networks.
The 5G Cyber Defense Center, located at Retamares Base, is focused on researching and improving the protection capabilities of military systems based on 5G networks, using high-tech nodes, artificial intelligence tools, and advanced cybersecurity platforms to detect and respond to cyberattacks in real time, and also functions as a training and experimentation environment for Defense personnel.
Telefónica, a key player in military 5G within NATO
Telefónica has established itself as one of the main references in 5G technology within NATO thanks to its extensive knowledge in the use of this mobile network and its experience in the military field, having participated in more than fifteen field tests, according to the company.
The operator has a specific center dedicated to the development of 5G technology that reinforces its strategic role in the application of this network in defense and security scenarios.
Its experience in the creation and deployment of multidomain 5G tactical bubbles --over land, sea, air, and cyberspace-- has enabled the launch of the first European development, training, and testing center for military cyber defense operations with 5G technology, in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Defense.
The technological solutions generated in this environment will be incorporated into one of NATO's projects at the end of this month, within the framework of the Alliance's digital innovation initiative.
Commitment to European technological sovereignty
The 5G development, training, and testing center promoted by Telefónica together with the Joint Cyberspace Command, located in the Community of Madrid, will be integrated into the NATO Digital Foundry initiative, a NATO platform that evaluates advanced solutions from the defense industry of allied countries using the organization's own data to test them and extend their use in the military environment.
In this space, communications between different Ministry of Defense assets, such as radars, drones, weapon systems, barracks, and even the combatant himself, are protected, analyzing the strengths and areas for improvement of 5G in high-demand operational scenarios.
The center also carries out research and development tasks, training of Armed Forces personnel, and analysis of artificial intelligence tools to detect and prevent cyberattacks in advanced environments such as 5G tactical bubbles with multiple nodes.
The NATO Digital Foundry, driven by the NATO Communication and Information Agency, is configured as an open and secure innovation platform that provides basic data infrastructure, tools, specialized knowledge, and testing environments so that allied countries can develop, test, and scale emerging and disruptive technologies in all their phases, in order to keep the Alliance at the forefront against future digital threats.