US DoD partners Verizon to deliver Forces network over IP

The United States Department of Defense has agreed a multi-year partnership with telco giant Verizon and the Defense Media Activity (DMA) to deliver content to overseas service members and their families.

The agreement will see DMA and Verizon deliver streaming content offerings including news, sports, and entertainment through live, linear and on-demand channels to American forces serving across the globe.

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The DMA provides multimedia products and services aimed at informing, educating, and entertaining DoD members who are serving overseas. This includes vital “command” information from military commanders as well as entertainment, news and sports programming through the American Forces Network (AFN).

AFN was previously reliant on satellite-based delivery, but the agreement between DoD, DMA and Verizon will see the launch of a new digital streaming app that offers access to linear and VoD content across mobile and digital devices.

“We are pleased to partner with an industry leader like Verizon who is uniquely positioned to enable DMA to transition from an antiquated satellite-based media delivery system to an Internet-based ‘IP-Streaming platform,” said acting DMA director, Colonel Paul R. Haverstick.

“This evolution to IP-Streaming will allow the DOD to better provide information to its service members, civilian employees and their families overseas and allows AFN to continue to be a relevant and trusted source for accurate DOD information.”

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Verizon will provide its Verizon Media Platform to support the service. The US telecoms provider said the solution will deliver “expanded, reduced cost programming and an enriched user experience” to the US troops who use it. The platform is already used by a number of industry players including the likes of Disney/ABC, Fox and Discovery.

“Verizon is proud to support the DMA’s rollout of a bold digital transformation of the American Forces Network (AFN) brand with a world-class streaming delivery platform,” said Mike Maiorana, senior vice president, Verizon public sector. “It’s Verizon’s distinct honour and privilege to provide service members and their families the next generation of American programming to stay connected, informed and entertained.”