1.

INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, the background of the study, statement of the problem, research questions,
objectives of the study, significance of the study, delimitation of the study, definition of key terms,
and organization of the study and conceptual frameworks have been treated one after the other
1.1. Background of the Study
Defense organization across the world depends heavily on their communication capabilities to
successfully complete a mission. Today’s battlefield commanders rely on network of well-
informed geographically dispersed forces to achieve an information advantage that can be
translated to a competitive war fighting advantage. Battlefield communications have been
dominated by push-to-talk radio technology since the 1940s. Today state- of-the-art digital radio
Systems form a multitude of international suppliers and provide ruggedized solutions that meet the
tactical requirement of military units around the world (Boed, 2000).

Military communications today are diverse and converged technology networks. According to
Worth, (2008), Mullen, (2010), and Goldfein, (2014) the convergence of strategic and tactical
networks around a broad range of technologies, including different types of radios, voice over IP
(VOIP), Satellite Communication (SATCOM), cellular, cryptographic devices, WIFI, internet and
others, make it a very challenging heterogeneous environment in which to deploy, network and
operate.

In recent years, the acceleration of technological growth has propelled many advances in both
civilian and military sectors. We now live in an information age where communication and data
processing continue to rise at an increasing rate; technological boosts continue to enable many
organizations to increase their operational capacity by several factors. With enhanced computing
and information systems, organizations are able to operate at increased speeds and thus seize a
time- critical advantage (Mullen, 2010).

Integrated Communications System is a collection of different communications networks,

transmission systems, relay stations, tributary stations, and data terminal equipment usually
capable of interconnection and interoperation to form an integrated whole (Boed, 2000).
Ethiopian Defense is mainly using Radio Communications System, Telephone System, Postal
System, internet etc. as its means of communications. Each of these systems is having dedicated
equipment. However, these systems are often unable to communicate with each other due to
incompatibility & lack of integration. Now-a-days Defense Communication system has become a
serious issue to find out a reliable Integrated Communication System.

According to Warsaw, (2012) the NATO countries are better benefiting from such centralized
command and control system which facilitated better information communication technology and
infrastructure. It helps with any Warfare and disaster management.

Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP) which is part of ICN, installed and integrated on the
South African Gripen fighter aircraft to take high-resolution images of the battlefield as it flies
overhead. Integrated Communication Networks served as Tactical intelligence solutions to the
South African National Defense Force (SANDF) by providing radar and optic sensors, specially
developed software, deployable infrastructure and specific types of communication equipment.
These used to gather intelligence data in order to make strategic assessments of the way to
engage hostile forces, assisting with obtaining quick intelligence and allowing the facilitation of
processing large intelligence data to create map of enemy forces.
(www.thalesgroup.com/en/defense-1).

In order to compete in the international communities our country needs to design and implement
Integrated Communication Networks in its defense forces and identifying the importance and
affordability of this communication technology will help to improve their efficiency and
effectiveness.
1.2. Statement of the Problem

According to Mullen, (2010) communication systems suffers with scattered networks, lack of
integration, and difficulty for management, natural and manmade noise, break down of system,
internal noise and intercept and attacked by the hostile Electronic Warfare /EW/.

The FDRE defense force communication department, evaluation report shows the Ethio-Eritrea
war in 1997-1999, the operation was successful in over all aspects and defeated the enemy. But
the friendly military communications were not able to communicate well and facilitate the chain
of command and control system due to fragmented communication ways. This happened because
the short range radio communication signal was highly degraded by the atmospheric layers and
other factors. Furthermore, specific problems of the current defense communication system are:
recorded data are vulnerable to damage, lost, theft and unnecessary modification. Due to
diversified and fragmented networks it is difficult to access and control all means of
communications at different levels.

As of Hurley (2012), in such conditions, quality and speed of the messages will be affected. So
that searching and compiling information will be difficult and time taking also prone to error as
well as vulnerable to be hacked.

On the other hand, USA according to the DoD cyber strategy, (2015) & worth, (2008), China as
of Zhang. W. et al (2015), Australia as of Hurley, (2012), NATO member countries as of Warsaw,
(2012) and South Africa, as of www.thalesgroup.com/en/defence-1 are strengthened by centralized
command control system which integrates the various communication methods in to one system
which uses better technology and knowledge. In the competitive global environment, if the
defense force of Ethiopia didn’t establish and continue communication with the existing network
system, it is very difficult to manage the combat operation & protect the hostile electronics attacks.
Hence, this study intended to describe the importance and affordability of the integrated
communication network for Ethiopian defense forces to give an insight to stakeholders and
decision makers.
1.3. Research Questions

1.3.1. General Questions

How is the integrated communication network important and affordable for the Ethiopian
defense force?

1.3.2. Sub Questions

 What are the challenges of the existing communication system in defense force of
Ethiopia?
 What are the understandings on relevant costs and benefits of the integrated
communication network?
 What are the comparative advantages of integrated communication network system over
the existing system in defense force of Ethiopia?
 What is the willingness to accept the integrated communication network?

1.4. Objectives of the Study

1.4.1. General objective

The main purpose of this research is to describe the importance and affordability of the
integrated communication network for the Ethiopian defense force.

1.4.2. Specific Objectives

 To describe the challenges of the existing communication system of defense force of

Ethiopia.
 To describe qualitative understandings on the relevant costs and benefits of the integrated
communication network system.
 To show the comparative advantages of integrated communication network system over
the existing system in defense force of Ethiopia.
 To identify the willingness to accept the integrated communication network by experts
and higher officials of the Defense Force of Ethiopia.
1.5. Significance of the Study

The results of this study are important to the Ethiopian Defense Force institutions and stakeholders.
It particularly helps the communication and information department to conduct cost benefit
analysis with quantitative approach and determine the importance and affordability of the ICN in
financial terms. It gives decision support tools to the higher officials and experts in the introduction
of ICN.
Other military professionals and students will use it as a reference for further investigation on the
military communication issues.

1.6. Scope of the Study

This descriptive study was conducted within the FDRE Ministry of National Defense. Professional
staffs, department heads and higher officials of the Head quarter were contacted for primary and
secondary data collection. The study also used mixed research approach in which qualitative and
quantitative data collection and analysis were involved. The sampling procedure was a non-
probability sampling, selected samples with judgmentally and to determine sample size by
Solvin’s sampling formula was used.
Finally descriptive analysis was done with SPSS 20 and results were displayed by simple
descriptive statistics. Whereas, secondary data was collected from different books, websites
journal articles, policy and other relevant documents and analyzed together.

1.7. Limitations of the Study

Busyness of the higher officials and key informants to conduct interview, lack of relevant
references on the topic and short period of time available to conduct the research were the major
challenges. The aforementioned things were among the limitation the study faced.
1.8. Operational Definitions

Affordability: the capacity to meet the financial obligations arising from buying integrated
communication network.
Command: - the functional exercise of authority based upon knowledge to attain an objective.
Control: - the process of verifying & connecting activity such that the objective or goal of
command is accomplished.
Command and control system:- is the facilities, equipment, communications, procedures, and
personnel essential to a commander for planning, directing, and controlling operations.
Command, control & communication system: - is an information system employed within a
military organization.
Command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance (C4ISR) is to provide capabilities that enable forces to generate, use, and share
the information necessary to survive and succeed on every mission.
Communication in defense: - It is across the world depends heavily on their communication
capabilities to successfully complete a mission.
Communication and information system (CIS) is an assembly of equipment, procedures and
personnel organized to accomplish data transfer and information processing functions.
Communications network is an organization of stations capable of intercommunications, but not
necessarily on the same channel.
Communication system: -the ability & function of providing the necessary liaison to exercise
effective command between tactical or strategic units of command.
Communications security (COMSEC) is the protection resulting from all measures designed to
deny unauthorized persons information of value that might be derived from the possession
Information and communications technology (ICT) is the applied science and engineering
aspects related to the creation, manipulation, presentation, dissemination of data for the
communication of information between users.
Integrated communications a property referring to the ability of diverse system & organization
to work together /inter-operate.
Interoperability is the condition achieved between communications-electronics systems or
equipment when data, information or services can be exchanged directly and satisfactorilybetween
them and/or their users
Protocol: - is a set of rules that governs the communications between computers on a network.
Strategic: - broadly defined methods of accomplishing a goal. the readiness and passion of
accept some thing
Tactical: - Narrowly defend methods of accomplishing objectives on route to a strategic goal
Willingness to Accept: people’s desire or motive to accept and implement something.

1.9. Organization of the study

The thesis is organized around five chapters. The first chapter deals with the background,statement
of the problem, the general and specific objectives, research question, the significance,scope and
limitation of the study and some of the operational definition of terms used in the analysis. The
second chapter reviews the related literature on integrated communications network, concepts,
theories, definition, roles and activities. It also discusses the challenges of the existing
communication networks. Chapter three presents the research design and methodology including
the research sampling approach, data source and the means by which it is gathered and on the
analysis methods employed. The fourth chapter presents data presentation, analysis and
interpretation. Finally the study draws summery of finding; conclusion and recommendation from
the discussion of the previous chapters which are presented in chapter five.