Information: Olvana
The People’s Republic of Olvana (PRO) maintains a large information environment, with its internet industries counted among the world’s most active. Olvana is, however, one of the world’s most restrictive media environments. The country's INFOWAR capability is highly developed and world-leading in a number of critical areas that will continue to expand in capability and availability. Olvana is a world leader in internet and INFOWAR technology and tactics and will leverage their capabilities to the utmost whenever necessary. Olvana will utilize its cyber capabilities against external opposition parties and foreign governments. Olvana will also attempt retain total control over the nation’s internal information environment by suppressing dissent within the populace over all communications mediums, though the internet remains the most free and accessible.
Satellite Telecommunications
Olvana possesses a wide range of satellite capabilities. Most are suited for dual-use by the Olvanan People’s Army (OPA) and civilian users. Currently, Olvana operates seven commercial telecommunications satellites utilizing Ku-band transponders in a geostationary orbit. All satellites are powered by solar array panels. These commercial satellites may be used to support military operations when necessary. Additionally, the OPA operates four communication satellites using Ku and C band transponders. The satellites are in a geostationary-orbit powered by solar array antenna. The government also leases bandwidth from commercial satellite companies that support government and military operations when necessary.
Olvana has an established history in the development and use of navigation satellite systems. Currently, Olvana operates 16 navigation satellite systems using E-band transponders. The combined systems create a network of navigation services and provide coverage of the Asia-Pacific region. The services are free to civilians and licensed to the Olvanan government and military.
Public Communications Media
Olvana’s control of public communications is heavy-handed. All significant public media is government-controlled; messages are crafted to portray the Olvanan Communist Party (OCP) in a positive way. Olvana possesses a diversified communications system that links all parts of the country by the different types of telecommunication systems. Olvana has a substantial national telecommunications infrastructure. Fiber optic cables cover most of the nation, and plans exist to improve and expand to areas not yet incorporated. Television continues to be the primary source of information within Olvana, with internet and mobile services growing in popularity due in part to their ability to evade censorship.
Internet
Olvana has the one of the world’s largest number of internet users, but major obstacles to ease-of-access still exist. These include poor infrastructure, inefficient state-owned internet enterprises, and centralized control over international gateways. Olvana, however, hosts more national bandwidth potential—currently more double than any Western nation.
Five state-run operators maintain Olvana’s gateways to the global internet, giving authorities the ability to cut off outside information requests. Additionally, all service providers must subscribe via the gateway operators under Ministry of Information Technology oversight.
An estimated 52% of the population has access to the internet on a daily basis, this number being higher in urban areas and lower in rural areas. Large numbers of internet users connect through cyber cafes and public computers, due to high demand and limited availability of privately owned access points. Mobile services are replacing fixed-line broadband as Olvana’s preferred means of accessing the internet, due to cost and inefficient service of other providers.
Current cybersecurity laws require internet companies in Olvana to censor information, register the users’ real names, and shut down services for security reasons as directed. A new law restricts use of virtual private networks throughout the country, in order to deny access to unauthorized sites from other countries. Olvana uses a sophisticated and evolving censorship apparatus—which utilizes both automated and manned processes—to monitor networks and block and filter material that criticizes or challenges government individuals or policies.
Television
The television industry in Olvana includes high-tech program production, transmission and coverage —though all is controlled by the government. There are no privately owned television stations in Olvana. Cable television is the transmission method in all urban areas. Cable systems usually carry all the Olvana Central Television channels in the national language. These broadcast a combination of news, sports, and historical programming. They may also carry a local channel for a particular province. An extremely small number of compounds with many foreign residents may carry selected channels from regional countries and select Western nations, with Chimera Television having the widest carriage under this rule. Approximately 75% of all Olvanans have access to a television, with the OCP periodically cracking down on unlicensed satellite services.
Radio
The radio industry in Olvana includes program production, transmission, and coverage, also controlled by the government. There are no privately owned radio stations. There are currently over 1000 radio stations in the country. Radio is the most widely used electronic media, with 80 percent of the populace having access. Radio broadcasting is done over AM, FM and Shortwave, but internet radio is slowly taking over the market. The major radio companies are PRO National Radio and PRO Radio International. Additionally, every province has at least one radio station operated by provincial government, with at least two different channels providing general interest, as well as original programming in specialized areas such as music and business news.
Print Media
Olvana has over 2000 daily and non-daily newspapers in circulation. Despite heavy government monitoring, print media has become an increasingly commercial market, with growing competition and diversified content. Although Olvana has many newspapers, the front-runners are all government-run, such as, the People's Daily, Hong Kong Daily and the Independent Daily. The primary news agencies in Olvana are Shanghai News Agency and PRO News Service.
Telephone
Olvana is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges, connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system. Fixed landline and mobile services are controlled by three telecommunication companies owned and controlled by the government. All approvals and licensing for new fixed landline and mobile services is conducted by the Ministry of Public Information.
There are approximately 230 million fixed landlines in Olvana, but this number is slowly decreasing due to the shift towards mobile service. Mobile phone subscribers now number over one billion and this number will likely increase at a steady pace as more towers and providers are introduced to the country. Olvana continues to develop its telecommunications infrastructure, and is partnering with foreign providers to expand its global reach. In recent years, an agreement was signed with a major telecommunications company to build the first next-generation optical cable system directly linking the West with Olvana.
International telephone communications are provided by a number of submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. In addition, international access to satellite earth stations provides additional international overseas access.
Postal/Courier
Olvana’s postal and courier systems are generally well established, reliable, and capable of moving significant amounts of freight throughout the nation. Along with the Olvanan national postal system, international freight providers and local freight forwarders are well entrenched in the nation. Olvana is the home to many specialty freight movement providers, such as heavy-lift aircraft and railway delivery.
Word of Mouth
Word-of-mouth is an important communications medium, especially in rural Olvana. With mobile technology gradually reaching rural areas, younger generations will likely displace word-of-mouth with social media services; as mobile subscriber numbers grow, traditional word-of-mouth channels typically becomes less prevalent.
Information Control
The government effectively controls all major media outlets to suppress dissent, with the notable exception of the internet. Although Olvana claims its citizens enjoy freedom of speech, regulations allow the Central Propaganda Agency (CPA) to suppress news that is deemed a threat to the security of the country. This CPA reviews information and deems what is acceptable and unacceptable for publication. The Olvanan government will often use strict media controls, such as monitoring systems and firewalls, blocking publications and/or websites, as well as jailing journalists, bloggers, and activists who write about the government in a bad way. As internet access via mobile devices continues to climb, censorship efforts will be unable to completely stop the circulation of unfavorable news by users who continually circumvent the technologies in place to stop it.
INFOWAR
Olvana’s information warfare (INFOWAR) capability is highly developed. Olvana utilizes the full range of INFOWAR operations to present a credible peer-level threat. Olvana’s INFOWAR is directed towards information detection sources, information channels, and information processing and decision making systems. The ultimate goal is to gain information superiority against the threat, disrupt the threat’s information control capabilities, and maintain and protect its own information systems and capabilities.
Electronic Warfare
Olvana has the most advanced and robust electronic warfare (EW) capability in the Western Pacific. Olvana’s EW capability is all encompassing. EW effects can be employed from air-, ground- and sea-based platforms. Olvana uses EW as a force multiplier in support of combat arms operations by conducting jamming and anti-jamming operations. Olvana also has a robust and technical training and proficiency program, ensuring these capabilities are used to their maximum capacity. Olvana integrates EW into all force-on-force exercises and simulations to maintain operator proficiency. In addition, Olvana may also combine EW and Cyber operations into a single unit to enhance effectiveness against a more formidable threat.
Computer Attack
Olvana’s cyber warfare capability is among the world’s best. Olvana sees cyber warfare as a cost-effective way to conduct asymmetric warfare. Olvana integrates offensive and defensive cyber operations to support larger objectives. Additionally, cyber operations are combined with other battlefield effects, such as kinetic strikes or psychological operations, to achieve a desired outcome at the strategic and/or operational level. Offensive cyber capabilities include distributed denial of services and hacking. Defensive cyber capabilities consist of surveillance and counter-intrusion. These operations can be conducted both inside and outside Olvana, depending on the desired outcome and the desired deniability. Cyber operations personnel are well trained at universities that specialize in Information Security and Technologies; once graduated they reside either within the OPA or possibly in other higher-level government organizations. In addition, it is possible that Olvana is also training personnel from North Torbia in cyber warfare operations.
Information Attack
Olvanan capability for information attack (IA) has increased over the past five years; it now ranks globally as one of the top actors in the world. The Olvanans are expert at integrating this capability with other INFOWAR elements, and will rely on IA in a conflict against enemies that are equal or slightly more advanced in this area. Recent Olvanan INFOWAR theory states that IA is the core of any attack, from tactical to strategic echelons. Olvana will use these capabilities not only on the battlefield, but also in the homeland of opponents.
Deception
Olvanan deception operations are among the best in the world due to the robust and advanced technologies available. Olvana utilizes deception from the tactical to strategic level. Deception operations at the strategic level consist of false actions conducted by diplomatic officials, fake military targets, and propaganda. At the tactical and operational level, Olvana employs a robust manufacturing capability to make high-fidelity decoys that, when deployed, deceive or confuse enemy collection assets. These decoys are used to protect high-value assets, such as air defense or artillery units, from detection and targeting.
Physical Destruction
Olvanan tactics maintain the importance of physically destroying enemy INFOWAR capabilities. OPA deep strike elements such as short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, strike aircraft, and special operations forces aggressively target enemy INFOWAR assets and capabilities. Olvanan doctrine stresses the eventual destruction of enemy INFOWAR assets after their neutralization. Among these assets is a growing anti-satellite (ASAT) capability. This ASAT effort includes a robust sensor-to-shooter kill-chain, using a variety of ground-based radar and visual sensors cueing ground-launched missiles. It is likely that ASAT efforts would attempt to neutralize enemy space-based surveillance and communications efforts early in any potential conflict. Olvana continues to research new and better ASAT capabilities, such as electro-magnetic pulse weapons and different delivery means, to further enhance the lethality of their program.
Protection and Security Measures
Olvana’s protection and security measures continue to evolve from basic applications to more advanced programs. Various investments and additional training for all personnel that use information systems are intended to ensure that personnel and companies adhere to published directives. These measures apply to not only information networks, but also physical security measures like access control, accountability of sensitive items, and critical infrastructure, to deny leaks and theft of materials.
Perception Management
Olvana’s perception management is a robust and integral part of their INFOWAR program. Its objective is to portray the government as a powerful and peace-loving member of the international community. Olvana uses different initiatives in the diplomatic, economic and information realms to project themselves as a non-threatening regional power. While publically portraying a positive image to the international community, other elements covertly expand Olvanan influence abroad, especially within emerging and smaller nations.
Intelligence
Olvana possesses one of the largest intelligence complexes in the world. Olvana maintains a sophisticated and able intelligence apparatus that operates both at home and abroad. The State Security Agency (SSA) is responsible for foreign intelligence and counter-intelligence at the national defense level, and focuses on threats from regional and Western nations. The OPA has oversight of well-trained and resourced tactical and operational intelligence disciplines. These disciplines consist of human intelligence (HUMINT), open source intelligence (OSINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), imagery intelligence (IMINT), measurement and signatures intelligence (MASINT), and continual research and fielding of new and advanced capabilities as they become available in each discipline.
Human Intelligence
Olvanan HUMINT capabilities are among the best in the world. Considering the high level of interest that the Pacific region maintains in Olvanan defense and diplomatic circles, it is reasonable to assess high activity of Olvanan HUMINT collection in the area. Olvanan HUMINT services are aggressive in exploiting these relationships and other enablers to effectively service HUMINT targets. The SSA counterintelligence service focuses on threats from external agencies seeking to acquire information on government and military forces, as well as major industrial companies. In addition, foreign intelligence activities handled by the SSA attempt to acquire technological and military secrets from abroad. These operations are normally carried out by travelers, businesspersons, and academics, with a special emphasis on overseas Olvanan students and high-tech professionals working abroad. These foreign agents are known to use pressure against Olvanan immigrants who work in technological and/or military research fields to acquire specific data. The SSA is responsible for domestic clandestine operations against foreign governments and corporations residing in Olvana. These operations normally consist of wire-taps, video surveillance and casual discussions to acquire information on selective fields or categories. HUMINT activities conducted by the armed services are mainly at the operational and tactical levels, but may include military attachés at Olvanan embassies abroad.
Open Source Intelligence
Olvanan OSINT efforts generally focus on Western rivals as opposed to other smaller Pacific nations. Olvanan intelligence uses OSINT for strategic analysis efforts, versus those at operational or tactical levels. Analyst will utilize the power of the internet to obtain key information on other nations from multiple sources to exploit vulnerabilities and advancements of militaries and industrial companies. They will conduct research to support strategic objectives by reviewing reporting from multiple media agencies to determine intentions, significant new advancements, and political agendas of nations which may pose a threat to Olvana.
Signals Intelligence
Olvanan SIGINT assets include ground, aircraft, maritime and satellite collection platforms. Olvana has the most extensive SIGINT capabilities in the region, and continues to research and upgrade these capabilities to remain ahead of its foes. These assets are scattered throughout the country and focused on internal as well as external threats. Compared to other major powers of the world, Olvana focuses more on their regional competitors. Personnel who operate in this discipline are well trained, as most are sent to specialized institutions or universities with an emphasis on technical aspects and language skills.
Imagery Intelligence
Olvanan IMINT collection capability maintains a fleet of manned and unmanned platforms for strategic and tactical collection, as well as a robust space collection capability. Unmanned aerial systems are utilized as a tactical collection platform along its borders and in support of maritime security and interdiction operations. Fixed and rotary wing assets are used as collection platforms. Olvana maintains dedicated military imaging satellite systems, which includes electro-optical sensors for collecting digital imagery in the visual and near infrared spectrums and synthetic aperture radar sensors capable of imaging targets through cloud cover and at nighttime.
Measurement and Signatures Intelligence
Olvana has a basic MASINT capability, primarily residing in anti-submarine warfare sensors. Olvana continues to research new capabilities in this discipline, and with its state of the art technology may employ an improved MASINT capability within the next few years.