Vertical: Defense
Application: Mission-critical voice, broadband data, satellite connectivity, P25 radio interoperability, video streaming, real-time location services
Ecosystem: EAF (Entidade Administradora da Faixa), Motorola Solutions, Ministry of Communications, Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency), Brazilian Navy
Private Network: Private 4G LTE, P25 LMR integration, low-Earth-orbit satellite links, MCX (Mission-Critical Push-to-X)
| Brazilian Navy tests federal government private mobile network with post-quantum encryption and satellite links. The one-year pilot integrates 4G broadband with legacy P25 radios, connecting vessels in motion and land-based teams across multiple states through a redundant data center architecture. |
The Brazilian Navy conducted a practical demonstration of a federal private mobile communication network in Rio de Janeiro in October 2026. The Entidade Administradora da Faixa (EAF), a non-profit spectrum administration entity created by Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), orchestrated the week-long demonstration that showcased integration between 4G LTE broadband services and legacy P25 land mobile radio systems. The pilot deployment connected Navy personnel on land, aboard the vessel Navio-Doca Bahia moving through Guanabara Bay, and at remote sites across multiple Brazilian states.
The demonstration validated the technical feasibility of a unified communications platform that combines voice, video, messaging, file transfer, and real-time agent location services under a single architecture. Developed by the Ministry of Communications and executed by EAF, the network employs post-quantum encryption and was tested using both terrestrial networks and low-Earth-orbit satellite links. The Brazilian Navy plans to initiate a one-year pilot project with the federal private network at no cost to the organization, evaluating system stability and resilience in both routine operations and simulated high-complexity scenarios including military operations and open-sea rescue missions.
| Metric | Detail |
| Network type | Private 4G LTE with P25 LMR integration, MCX (Mission-Critical Push-to-X) |
| Coverage | Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Bay, multi-state connectivity |
| Infrastructure | Main data center in Brasília, mirrored redundant facility at Navy Ilha do Governador base |
| Key vendors | EAF (infrastructure operator), Motorola Solutions (WAVE PTX, Critical Connect platform) |
| Integrator | EAF (Entidade Administradora da Faixa), Ministry of Communications |
| Timeline | Demonstration October 2026, one-year pilot starting 2026 |
| Technology | Post-quantum encryption, LEO satellite connectivity, 3GPP standards-compliant MCX |
| Connected sites | DCTIM (Navy Directorate), Navio-Doca Bahia vessel, radios across multiple Brazilian states |
Federal Spectrum Management and Regulatory Framework
The Brazilian Navy deployment is part of a broader federal initiative supervised by the Ministry of Communications and regulated by Anatel through the Group for Monitoring the Implementation of Solutions for Interference Problems in the 3.5 GHz band (Gaispi). The EAF was created by mandate of Anatel as part of commitments arising from Brazil’s 5G spectrum auction, tasked with managing spectrum coordination and operating private communication network infrastructure for federal government agencies. This regulatory framework positions Brazil as the largest national market for private LTE and 5G networks in Latin America, with over 250 tracked projects according to SNS Telecom & IT research.
Brazil has allocated spectrum for private networks across multiple bands including 450 MHz, 1.5 GHz, 2.3 GHz, 3.5 GHz, 4.8 GHz, and 28 GHz, with Anatel having granted 66 licenses for enterprise-owned private 5G networks as of 2026. Thirty-four licenses have been issued for spectrum at 2.39 to 2.4 GHz, 30 licenses for spectrum at 3.7 to 3.8 GHz, and two licenses for spectrum at 27.5 GHz to 27.9 GHz.
Technical Architecture and Redundancy Design
The network infrastructure mobilizes a main data processing center located in Brasília with a geographically redundant mirrored structure housed at Navy facilities on Ilha do Governador in Rio de Janeiro. This dual-site architecture ensures continuity of operations if either facility experiences disruption, a critical requirement for military communications supporting national security missions. The demonstration connected the DCTIM (Navy’s Directorate of Communications and Information Technology), the Navio-Doca Bahia vessel, and radio units located in Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian states, including continuous communications during the vessel’s movement through Guanabara Bay.
Motorola Solutions is implementing the core technology platform, deploying WAVE PTX, a 3GPP standards-compliant communications system running on the government’s private 4G network. The company is also deploying Critical Connect, a service enabling interoperability between the 4G broadband network and existing P25, TETRA, and DMR land mobile radio systems. This integration strategy mirrors deployments combining broadband and narrowband technologies for public safety applications, preserving investments in legacy radio infrastructure while adding advanced data capabilities. The platform supports voice, video, messaging, file transfer, and real-time location tracking in a unified interface accessible to authorized personnel across federal agencies.
Operational Testing Scenarios and Mission-Critical Validation
Technical trials during the October 2026 demonstration were designed to evaluate system stability and resilience across diverse scenarios reflecting both daily Navy routines and high-stress operational conditions. According to the Ministry of Communications, activities covered routine situations and high-complexity operational scenarios with teams on land and vessels in motion. Testing included calls between smartphones and P25 radios, communication with the moving Navio-Doca Bahia vessel, and satellite connections to remote locations. These trials validated the network’s ability to maintain connectivity during vessel displacement, a capability essential for coordinating naval operations and emergency response at sea.
The testing scope encompassed simulated military operations and rescue missions at open sea, evaluating performance via both terrestrial networks and satellite links. The validation approach parallels private network testing for high-mobility applications in Brazil, where maintaining connectivity to moving assets represents a key performance benchmark. The one-year pilot will extend this validation to operational deployment, providing Navy personnel with real-world experience using the integrated platform.
Multi-Agency Interoperability and National Security Benefits
The federal private network architecture extends beyond the Brazilian Navy to encompass multiple defense and public safety agencies. Organizations including the Brazilian Army, Federal Highway Patrol, and Distrito Federal Military Police will be equipped with LMR voice communications together with advanced broadband capabilities including video streaming and the ability to share rich data and multimedia. This multi-agency approach addresses a longstanding coordination challenge where defense and public safety agencies, each using separate communication systems, struggled with real-time coordination that caused delays undermining response efforts. The unified platform eliminates these communication barriers, enabling reliable connectivity for federal agencies and, in planned subsequent phases, state military and civil police forces.
Geraldo Segatto, Head of Government Private Network Project at EAF, emphasized the operational imperative driving the deployment. The integration model resembles large-scale private network deployments supporting coordinated multi-team operations, where seamless communication between diverse stakeholders enables faster decision-making. In Brazil’s context, this capability is particularly critical for addressing drug trafficking, organized crime, and natural disaster response, all of which demand highly coordinated multi-agency efforts. The platform’s post-quantum encryption provides security against emerging threats, future-proofing communications infrastructure as quantum computing advances.
| “Efficiently addressing drug trafficking, organized crime and natural disasters demands highly coordinated multi-agency responses. In the past, defense and public safety agencies, each using separate communication systems, struggled with real-time coordination, causing delays that undermined response efforts. The new solution eliminates these communication barriers, enabling reliable connectivity for federal agencies and, in its next phase, state military and civil police, to significantly improve response times and mission success.” Geraldo Segatto, Head of Government Private Network Project, EAF |
| “We are proud to support Brazil’s vision of public safety modernization by delivering a platform that combines the proven reliability of land mobile radio with media-rich broadband capabilities. This integration offers resilience, improved situational awareness, and seamless interoperability, enabling faster and more effective emergency responses nationwide.” Edison Ambrosio, Sales Director Defense and Federal Markets, Motorola Solutions |
Global Context and Comparable Government Network Models
Brazil’s federal private network initiative positions the country among a select group of nations deploying dedicated communications infrastructure for defense and public safety agencies. The United States pioneered this model with FirstNet, created by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which allocated 20 MHz of bandwidth in the 700 MHz band and provided $7 billion to build, operate, and maintain a high-speed nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. Police, firefighters, and emergency medical service personnel continue to rely on land mobile radio networks for mission-critical voice, with FirstNet providing high-speed data, supplemental commercial-grade voice, and eventually mission-critical LTE voice, while also supporting LMR network integration.
The United Kingdom is developing the Emergency Services Network, an LTE radio communications network intended to replace the existing TETRA-based Airwave network, providing unified communication for British emergency services. Brazil’s approach differs by establishing EAF as a dedicated spectrum administrator and infrastructure operator, similar to neutral-host network models deployed at major transportation hubs. This structure enables coordinated spectrum management while Motorola Solutions provides the technology platform, separating regulatory oversight from equipment supply.
Academic Research and Military Network Security Advances
The Brazilian Navy’s commitment to advanced communications security is reflected in ongoing academic research by naval personnel. The integration of low-Earth-orbit satellite connectivity extends the network’s reach beyond terrestrial coverage, enabling operations in remote maritime areas and inland regions lacking cellular infrastructure. This hybrid terrestrial-satellite architecture resembles private network deployments covering vast geographic areas with sparse infrastructure, where satellite backhaul complements terrestrial radio access networks. For the Brazilian Navy, this capability is essential for maintaining communications with vessels operating along Brazil’s 7,491-kilometer Atlantic coastline and in international waters supporting multinational operations.
Implementation Timeline and Pilot Evaluation Framework
The Brazilian Navy will initiate pilot use of the federal private mobile communication network for one year at no cost to the military organization, providing an extended evaluation period before committing to full operational adoption. This risk-mitigation approach allows Navy personnel to assess the platform’s performance under real-world operational conditions, identify integration challenges with existing systems and procedures, and refine requirements for broader deployment. The Ministry of Communications and EAF will monitor system performance metrics including availability, latency, throughput, and interoperability effectiveness throughout the pilot period.
The demonstration in October 2026 validated core functionality, but the one-year pilot will expose the network to the full spectrum of Navy operational scenarios including extended maritime deployments, joint exercises with other military branches and international partners, and integration with command-and-control systems. The pilot’s outcomes will inform deployment decisions for other federal agencies and potential expansion to state-level military and civil police forces, scaling the network to support Brazil’s broader public safety modernization strategy similar to phased private network rollouts in complex multi-stakeholder environments.
| KEY INSIGHT Brazil’s federal private network demonstrates a scalable model for defense and public safety communications modernization, integrating legacy P25 radio investments with 4G broadband and satellite connectivity under unified spectrum administration. The one-year Navy pilot at zero cost reduces adoption risk while validating interoperability, security, and performance for multi-agency expansion. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the EAF and what role does it play in Brazil’s private network deployment?
EAF (Entidade Administradora da Faixa) is a non-profit entity created by Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to manage spectrum coordination and operate private communication network infrastructure for federal government agencies as part of Brazil’s 5G auction commitments.
Q2: What technology does the Brazilian Navy private network use?
The network uses private 4G LTE with Motorola Solutions’ WAVE PTX platform for mission-critical Push-to-X services, integrating with existing P25 land mobile radios through Critical Connect middleware, plus low-Earth-orbit satellite links and post-quantum encryption for security.
Q3: How long will the Brazilian Navy pilot the federal private network?
The Brazilian Navy will conduct a one-year pilot at no cost to the organization, evaluating system stability and resilience in both routine operations and simulated high-complexity scenarios including military operations and open-sea rescue missions.
Q4: Which other Brazilian agencies will use the federal private network?
Organizations including the Brazilian Army, Federal Highway Patrol, and Distrito Federal Military Police will be equipped with the integrated platform, with planned expansion to state military and civil police forces in subsequent phases.
Q5: What infrastructure supports the Brazilian Navy private network?
The network uses a main data processing center in Brasília with a geographically redundant mirrored facility at Navy facilities on Ilha do Governador in Rio de Janeiro, ensuring continuity of operations if either site experiences disruption.
Q6: How does Brazil’s federal private network compare to similar international initiatives?
Brazil’s model resembles the United States FirstNet and uses a dedicated spectrum administrator (EAF) separating regulatory oversight from equipment supply, while Motorola Solutions provides the core technology platform.
