The defense and government security sectors have long depended on proprietary communications systems developed specifically for their use. In this way, they have been able to leverage the best technology available to create purpose-built systems that meet their exacting standards. With LTE/4.9G network technology and the need for defense organizations to further digitalize their operations, this situation started to change; the advent of 5G technology will accelerate this evolution. Outside of combat operations and augmented by specific security features such as mesh networking, many of the communications needs of the defense sector can now be met with private wireless networks based on 4.9G or 5G technologies.