The Department of Defense has awarded Verizon a 24-month task order extension to continue providing critical communications capabilities to the U.S. government under the Global Network Solutions program.
The original GNS contract awarded in 2016 now has a cumulative amount of over $98 million, Verizon said Monday.
The extension aims to create a point-to-point connection within Southwest Asia to support DOD operations in the region. The contract award is in line with the mandate of the DOD’s Chief Information Officer to eliminate legacy time division multiplexing systems.
“Verizon’s role in delivering a secure, point-to-point connection in the specified area highlights the Department of Defense’s continued confidence in our ability to provide critical network communications in strategic regions,” commented David Rouse, head of defense business at Verizon.
The multiple-award contract will be recompeted in 2026.
What is the Global Network Service Program?
The GNS creates a secure and reliable unified network that combines fiber, wireless and satellite technologies to enable the transmission of classified and non-classified data at speeds of up to 100 gigabits per second and provide global voice and video communication capabilities. The global network aims to support the operational and warfighting needs of over 1 million DOD and national security personnel deployed outside of the continental United States.
Verizon-DOD Partnership
The American telecommunications company is a long-time partner of the Pentagon and has secured multiple major defense contracts over the years.
In May, Verizon won a spot in the 10-year Wireless and Telecommunications Services, or Spiral 4, contract vehicle valued at $2.7 billion to deliver various wireless services and devices to the U.S. Navy.
The connectivity provider also announced in February that it will collaborate with Boldyn Networks and AAFES to build 10 macro cellular towers at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, to boost 5G coverage at the U.S. Army installation.
