Open RAN Policy Coalition Congratulates AT&T, Verizon on Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Award

Grant includes $42.3 million for Open RAN testing, evaluation and R&D centers.

Washington, DC — The Open RAN Policy Coalition congratulates AT&T and Verizon on a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as part of the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund.

The $42.3 million grant, which is the final award in the first round of funding authorized by Congress in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, will go towards the establishment of the Acceleration of Compatibility and Commercialization for Open RAN Deployments (ACCoRD). This consortium of carriers, universities and equipment suppliers will establish testing, evaluation and R&D centers in Dallas and Washington, D.C. According to NTIA, the center will focus testing on network performance, interoperability and security, and will facilitate research into new testing methods.

“The Open RAN Policy Coalition is thrilled to offer our … Read More

Diane Rinaldo Testifies before Congress on the Momentum of the Open RAN Movement

Open RAN Policy Coalition Executive Director Diane Rinaldo testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology today, in a hearing on “Leveraging American Communications Leadership with Open RAN Networks.” Her testimony focuses on the transformational role of open and interoperable solutions in the RAN, particularly as we navigate the evolution of 5G technology and prepare for 6G and beyond. Some key themes from today’s testimony include:

  • The Wireless Innovation Fund of the CHIPS and Science Act was a landmark achievement, introducing grant programs to catalyze Open RAN initiatives. However, the allocation and deployment of these funds have not met the pace of innovation – of the $1.5 billion dollars allocated, only 6% has been distributed: 4% to businesses and only 0.01% to small businesses.  To truly drive innovation, it is essential that these funds are fully
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Beyond the Hype: Navigating the Cost-Effective Future of 5G with Open RAN

As the deployment of 5G communication networks unfolds, we stand on the brink of a transformative era in telecommunications.  This technological leap not only promises innovation but also has the potential to redefine network architecture, cost-efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

5G technology offers a unique opportunity to increase capacity, enhance the customer experience, and reduce operational costs. This can be achieved through Open RAN and the expansion and diversification of the vendor ecosystem; by promoting an environment of open and interoperable hardware and software, 5G deployment can reshape the telecommunications landscape, making it more cost-effective for operators and creating a competitive marketplace that ultimately benefits consumers.

As technology advances, our networks can’t be left behind.  Moving to virtualization and software defined networks decreases a network’s hardware footprint, in turn lowering costs and making repairs and upgrades achievable via clicks on a … Read More

Open RAN Policy Coalition Congratulates DISH Wireless on Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Award

Washington, DC — The Open RAN Policy Coalition congratulates DISH Wireless, today named as the recipient of a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as part of the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, a $1.5 billion project authorized by Congress in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

The $50 million grant award will go towards the establishment of the Open RAN Center for Integration & Deployment (ORCID), an initiative that will allow participants to test and validate their hardware and software solutions against DISH’s Open RAN network.

“The Open RAN Policy Coalition is thrilled to congratulate DISH on their tremendous achievement,” said Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director of the Open RAN Policy Coalition. “This well-deserved grant from NTIA and the U.S. Department of Commerce speaks to the commitment of DISH Networks and its partners in advancing … Read More

Fifth Quad Open RAN Forum

On November 2nd, the Open RAN Policy Coalition, along with partner associations Assocham and Keidanren, hosted the Fifth Quad Open RAN Forum in Washington, D.C.

This meeting, which included participants from the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S., served as a continuation the Track 1.5 dialogue on Open RAN. In this series of events and meetings, we bring together government and industry leaders to discuss progress on Open RAN deployments and facilitating innovation in telecoms infrastructure, with a particular focus on nations participating in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

At the Fifth Quad Open RAN Forum, participants covered topics including financing for Open RAN deployments, and bridging to non-Quad efforts. Private sector presentations highlighted industry efforts on Open RAN and continued efforts toward secure and trusted infrastructure for 5G and advanced wireless networks.  … Read More

Governments Worldwide Embrace Open RAN: A Glimpse of Recent Initiatives

Open RAN continues to transform the telecommunications landscape, fostering innovation, competition, and supplier diversity. As the open RAN revolution gains momentum, governments worldwide are recognizing the immense potential of Open RAN and are taking proactive steps to support its development and adoption. In this post, we’ll delve into recent initiatives and collaborations by governments, emphasizing the international significance of Open RAN.

  • On September 14, the UK government, in collaboration with major mobile network operators, issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to Open RAN principles. Their collective goal is to enhance competition and innovation in the telecommunications sector, ultimately improving the security and resilience of critical network infrastructure. Notably, they are aiming for 35% of the UK’s network traffic to be carried over open and interoperable RAN architectures by 2030, a testament to their dedication to the technology’s development.
  • In
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ORPC Statement on Global Coalition on Telecommunications Launch

Today, the United Kingdom government announced the launch of the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT). The initial membership of GCOT spans five countries – Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States and will seek to drive closer cooperation a range of important issues, not least telecommunications vendor diversification.

The Open RAN Policy Coalition applauds the United Kingdom and its partner nations in the creation of this group, which will enable greater coordination and collaboration across countries that are at the forefront of Open RAN activity. We believe that this will ultimately drive greater investment, innovation, and competition in the market for telecommunications network infrastructure.

Today’s announcement builds upon the foundations laid by the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and the G7 on Open RAN, and paves the way forward for an enduring and operational commitment for the adoption of … Read More

Open RAN Policy Coalition Congratulates DeepSig on Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Award

WASHINGTON, DC – The Open RAN Policy Coalition is thrilled congratulate DeepSig, the recipient of a Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

NTIA’s announcements for the first round of Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund grants began this week, and will recognize the outstanding contributions of companies like DeepSig that are dedicated to driving technological progress to accelerate the adoption and performance of Open RAN for 5G and beyond.

“Congratulations to DeepSig for their well-deserved grant from the NTIA’s Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund,” said Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director of the Open RAN Policy Coalition. “This significant achievement underscores DeepSig’s dedication to advancing innovation in Open RAN through generative AI technologies. It is imperative that we recognize the efforts of the companies playing a critical role in working toward a … Read More

Empowering Global Connectivity: The Open RAN Revolution

Open RAN Policy Coalition Executive Director Diane Rinaldo contributed to the August edition of 5G Magazine, which was focused on Open RAN.

In her piece, Diane says that Open RAN holds the key to enabling secure and diverse telecoms infrastructure, supporting the advancement of 5G and advanced wireless networks, and fostering innovation and competition in the telecommunications industry. By continuing to work globally with policymakers, standards bodies and industry stakeholders, we can incentivize deployments, unlock funding for Open RAN and foster policies that will usher in a new era of global connectivity to bridge the digital divide, stimulate economic growth, and propel humanity towards a more connected and prosperous future.

She notes that there is a global momentum towards Open RAN, due in part to government support worldwide, which has played a critical role in driving the transition to an … Read More

Fourth Quad Open RAN Forum

On June 15, the Open RAN Policy Coalition, along with partner associations Assocham and Keidanren, hosted the Fourth Quad Open RAN Forum in Tokyo, Japan.

As participants in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. (“Quad governments”) continue to emphasize the importance of secure and trusted infrastructure for 5G and advanced wireless networks, and support vendor diversity across the telecoms ecosystem. Open RAN continues to have a significant role in delivering on these priorities.

The Fourth Quad Forum was a continuation of the Track 1.5 dialogue on Open RAN, a series of events and discussions bringing together government and industry leaders to discuss progress on Open RAN deployments and facilitating innovation in telecoms infrastructure.

Topics covered at the Forum included financing Open RAN deployments at scale, Open RAN opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, and breakout … Read More