India, Sept. 6 -- Defence communication is built for a different operating environment from civilian telecommunications. While commercial networks are designed around coverage, capacity, user density, and service continuity for public use, defence networks are shaped by mission-critical needs, mobility, security, redundancy, and operational command requirements.

In this setting, 5G can support tactical defence communications, but only when it is deployed as a dedicated, customised, secure, and defence-controlled network rather than as an extension of a public or hybrid cellular system.

The nature of defence communication makes it distinct from civilian communication systems. It has to be critical in function, fail-safe in design, and su...