DISA, an agency of the U.S. Defense Department working to support global network-centric solutions for the U.S. military and government, announced the selection Tuesday of Alcatel-Lucent's WiMAX wireless broadband technology after a tactical service provider joint capabilities technology demonstration for interoperability.

Alcatel-Lucent says it will provide its WiMAX technologies to DISA for the next testing phase, which includes a live field demonstration.

The WiMAX system is capable of beam forming enabling the "reduction in the number of radio sites needed to provide coverage -- in some instances by as much as 40 percent -- while reducing interference and ensuring better indoor penetration of the radio signal," the release said.