Events

Upcoming Events

Open RAN North America: In NYC

December 7-8, 2022

The Open RAN Policy Coalition is excited to be in New York City for Open RAN North America on December 7-8. The conference will include attendees from across the RAN ecosystem, including service providers, enterprises, the public sector, vendors, industry associations and academia.

On December 8 at 2:30 p.m. our Coalition will host a policy workshop on “Overcoming Barriers to 5G Deployment through R&D, Test Beds and Interoperability”. This session will feature a panel discussion moderated by Executive Director Diane Rinaldo, that will address questions such as:

  • What strategies can governments and the private sector undertake to promote supply chain security while avoiding mandates and maintaining technology neutrality?
  • How can smart policies encourage the continued adoption of open and interoperable solutions in the RAN and emergence of diverse vendors in the telecoms ecosystem?
  • What are the research needs to accelerate Open RAN development, and what does the current test labs landscape look like?
  • How can we coordinate across governments and regions to leverage test beds and R&D resources and knowledge?

Confirmed panelists include Chris Boyer, Vice President of Global Security and Technology Policy at AT&T; Ganesh Shenbagaraman, Head of Integrated Products And Ecosystems at Radisys; and Mari Silbey, Senior Director of Partnerships and Outreach at US Ignite.

Other interesting discussions on the agenda in New York include:

The full agenda for the event is available here. We hope to see you in New York!

Past Events

The Role of Cloud Providers and Semiconductors in Open RAN

May 11, 2022

11:00 a.m. ET

Advancements in 5G have led to faster and more intelligent networks, offering mobile network operators the ability to reach and serve more customers while expanding the mobile ecosystem into nearly every industry worldwide.

As part of the 5G transformation, there has been a huge uptick in solutions allowing for the integration of open and interoperable interfaces into the radio access network (RAN), lowering the barrier to entry for new innovators including cloud providers and semiconductor vendors.  

Please join us for a discussion about the role of these innovators in the mobile ecosystem, featuring keynote remarks from Paul Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of XCOM-Labs, followed by a panel discussion including:

  • Cheryl Davis, Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives, Oracle
  • Gilles Garcia, Senior Director Marketing Business Lead, Data Center & Communications Group, AMD
  • Nick Karter, Strategic Marketing Director, Wireless Communications, Analog Devices, Inc.
  • Howard Wu, Vice President, Global Head of Networks and GM USA, QCT
  • Prakash Sangam, Founder and Principal, Tantra Analyst LLC (Moderator)

Speakers will address questions including:

  • What are the different use cases for cloud-native virtual RAN (vRAN) implementations, and how does this fit into the shift to open architectures?
  • How can cloud services and virtualizing the RAN increase flexibility in hardware, software and systems integration?
  • What role do industry-standard 5G chips play in allowing network operators to mix and match equipment and software more easily?
  • How can Open RAN-enabled chips promote network agility, including secure and efficient data movement?

The Second Quad Open RAN Forum

Monday, May 9, 2022
07:45-10:00 EST | 17:15-19:30 IST | 20:45-23:00 JST | 21:45-00:00 AEST

As part of their participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. (“Quad governments”) have emphasized the importance of secure and trusted infrastructure for 5G and advanced wireless networks, as well as the need for greater vendor diversity across the telecoms ecosystem.

Because Open RAN has a significant role in delivering on these priorities there has been substantial investment by the private sector, as well as government support for the development and adoption of open and interoperable interfaces.

Please join us as we continue the Track 1.5 dialogue on Open RAN with the Second Quad Open RAN Forum. We will bring together government and industry leaders to discuss progress on Open RAN deployments over the past year and how Open RAN is facilitating innovation in telecoms infrastructure and beyond.

Speakers include:

  • Brendan Dowling – First Assistant Secretary, Digital and Technology Policy Division, Department of Home Affairs, Government of Australia (Moderator)
  • April McClain-Delaney – Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, Department of Commerce, Government of the United States
  • Narendra Nath – Joint Secretary, National Security Council Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of India
  • Yasuo Tawara – Director-General of Global Strategy Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Government of Japan
  • Azita Arvani – General Manager, Americas, Rakuten Symphony
  • P. Balaji – Chief Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Officer, Vodafone Idea & Chairman, National Council on Digital Communications, ASSOCHAM
  • Robert Blair – Senior Director, 5G and External Affairs, Microsoft
  • Alex Botting – International Director, Open RAN Policy Coalition
  • Rajesh Gangadhar – CTO & CPO Access Solutions, Sterlite
  • Gerardo Giaretta – Head of 5G Infrastructure Business and Product Management, Qualcomm
  • Vivek Mahajan – Chief Technology Officer, Fujitsu
  • Takayuki Morita – President & Chief Executive Officer, NEC Corporation
  • Rishi Nandwana – Head of Radio Product Management and Engineering, Sterlite Technologies Limited
  • Diane Rinaldo – Executive Director, Open RAN Policy Coalition
  • Naoki Tani – Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer & Executive General Manager of R&D Innovation, NTT Docomo
  • Santiago Tenorio – Fellow and Director of Network Architecture, Vodafone

The Quad Open RAN Showcase

March 7: 19:30 EST (U.S.)
March 8: 06:00 IST (India) | 09:30 JST (Japan) | 11:30 AEST (Australia)

The governments of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. (“Quad governments”) have emphasized the importance of secure and trusted network infrastructure, and the need for greater vendor diversity across the telecoms ecosystem. To support these objectives they endorsed the launch of a Track 1.5 dialogue on Open RAN at the September 2021 Quad Leaders Summit.

We invite you to attend the Quad Open RAN Showcase, the first public event to be hosted under the Track 1.5 dialogue. The Showcase will highlight the breadth of Open RAN vendors and solutions that are emerging from Quad countries, as well as other likeminded countries in the Indo-Pacific region, as Open RAN has moved from concept to deployment in more than 40 countries around the world.

The program itself will feature remarks from Quad government officials, as well as presentations from more than a dozen vendors whose open, interoperable solutions are available, and in many cases deployed, today.

Industry speakers include:

  • Sadayuki Abeta, VP & General Manager, NTT Docomo
  • Mersad Cavcic, VP of Product Management, Pivotal Commware, Inc.
  • Rajesh Gangadhar, CTO & CPO Access Solutions, Sterlite
  • Gerardo Giaretta, 5G RAN Infrastructure Lead, Qualcomm
  • Mehran Hadipour, VP Global Business Development & Alliances, Robin
  • Justin Taiwook Jwa, Sales Strategy Lead, Networks, Samsung
  • Abel Mayal, SVP Technology and Marketing, Airspan
  • David Nanto, Director, 5G Strategy and Business Division, NEC
  • Dan Picker, CTO, Inseego
  • Toru Sekino, VP/Deputy Head (Global Business), Mobile System Business Unit, Fujitsu
  • Sandeep Sharma, VP & Global Head of 5G RAN and ORAN Network Services Portfolio, Tech Mahindra
  • Ganesh Shenbagaraman, Head of Integrated Products and Ecosystem, Radisys


*Participation by any company in the Quad Open RAN Showcase is not an endorsement by the Governments of Australia, India, Japan, or the U.S. of any product or service discussed at the event.

Open RAN for a Secure Digital Transformation to 5G

Wednesday, January 26, 2022
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET

Security challenges are a concern when discussing the shift of mobile networks to “open” architectures. While generic security risks exist regardless of the underlying network architecture, 5G and Open RAN will enable new capabilities that will allow operators to monitor, detect, prevent, and respond to threats quickly.

This event featured a keynote speech by Andre Fuetsch, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, AT&T Services, Inc, followed by a fireside chat with Amit Mital, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director at National Security Council, The White House, and Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director, Open RAN Policy Coalition.

And a panel discussion, featuring:

  • Monica Paolini, Founder and Principal, Senza Fili (Moderator)
  • Jeff Edlund, CTO, Communications and Technology Group, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
  • Douglas Gardner, Chief Technologist in the CTO Office Security Center of Excellence, Analog Devices, Inc.

Speakers addressed questions including:

  • What tools are enabled by Open RAN that allow operators to identify and respond quickly to implied and real-world security threats?
  • How can innovation and supplier diversity in an open ecosystem encourage diverse security solutions to address potential threats and mitigate risk?
  • What is the role of standards-setting organizations with 5G security and Open RAN? How does their work enable technology providers and network operators to align on security requirements?
  • Where do we see the greatest progress and potential on real-world deployments of Open RAN solutions today?
  • What should policymakers consider when working together with the private sector to ensure security for 5G and beyond?

The Quad Open RAN Forum

Wednesday, July 28
8:00 a.m. EST / 5:30 p.m. IST / 9:00 p.m. JST / 10:00 p.m. AEST

Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. are home to 24% of the world’s population, 35% of the world’s GDP, and many of the world’s leading technology and telecoms companies. The Quad governments have emphasized the importance of secure and trusted network infrastructure, and the need for greater vendor diversity across the telecoms ecosystem, objectives that Open RAN can help deliver.

Open RAN has been deployed in 35 countries on a pilot or commercial basis already, including in Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. To support the significant investment that the private sector has already made in Open RAN, governments have a critical role in creating an enabling environment to further support its development and adoption, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of vendors.

The Quad Open RAN Forum will bring together government and industry leaders for the first time to discuss existing Open RAN deployments, the security of Open RAN networks, and how the transition to Open RAN will promote competition, security, and technological neutrality in the telecoms ecosystem.

Government Speakers

  • Marc Ablong | Deputy Secretary of National Resilience & Cyber Security, Australian Department of Home Affairs
  • Anne Neuberger |  Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies, U.S. National Security Council
  • Lt. Gen Dr. Rajesh Pant | National Cyber Security Coordinator, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of India
  • Yasuo Tawara | Director-General of the Global Strategy Bureau, Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Industry Speakers

  • Tareq Amin | Chief Technology Officer, Rakuten Mobile
  • Arun Bhikshesvaran  | CEO, Radisys
  • Sumit Dhawan | President, VMWare
  • C. P. Gurnani | CEO & Managing Director, Tech Mahindra
  • Shawn Hakl | VP of 5G Strategy, Microsoft
  • Nikos Katinakis | Group Executive, Networks & IT, Telstra
  • Pardeep Kohli | President & CEO, Mavenir
  • Thierry Maupile | Chief Strategy Officer, Altiostar
  • Takayuki Morita | President & CEO, NEC Corporation
  • Naoki Tani | EVP, CTO & Executive GM of R&D Innovation, NTT Docomo

Open RAN Security in 5G

July 13, 2021
1:00 p.m. ET

Security challenges are a common issue raised when shifting to an Open RAN or disaggregated network environment. While cyber threats continue to pose tremendous risks to carriers, enterprises, and industries, there are new capabilities enabled by 5G that will improve security, and stakeholders need the confidence that 5G networks and services –including those leveraging Open RAN – have carrier or enterprise-grade security.

The event featured remarks from Mark McLaughlin, Chairman of the Board for Qualcomm Inc. and a member of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee and from Evelyn Remaley, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.

Following was a panel discussion with:

  • Roger Entner (moderator), Founder and Lead Analyst, Recon Analytics
  • Dan Beaman, Global Director of 5G, IoT, and Multi Access Edge Computing (MEC) Security Solutions, Palo Alto Networks
  • Nagendra Bykampadi, Director, Security Product Management, Altiostar; Co-Chair, Security Focus Group, O-RAN Alliance
  • Bob Everson, Senior Director, 5G Architecture, Cisco Systems
  • Amy Zwarico, Director – Cybersecurity, AT&T Chief Security Office

Speakers addressed key questions including:

  • What are the various security benefits of 5G in comparison to previous generation networks?
  • How does Open RAN allow operators to build upon the capabilities enabled by 5G to shift the security capabilities closer to the edge of the network and stop attacks closer to the source?
  • How can operators integrate best-in-class security platforms with open interfaces using modern, industry-standard security protocols?
  • What is the role of Open RAN in speeding the complete automation of network management to eliminate the security risks inherent in human access to network functions?
  • How can policymakers work together with private sector and government collaborators to enable a secure digital transformation to 5G?

On April 28, the Open RAN Policy Coalition released a new analysis on Open RAN Security in 5G, available for download here.

Startup Innovation in the Open RAN Ecosystem

April 27, 2021
11:00 a.m. ET

Standardizing interfaces in the Radio Access Network encourages a variety of different models to emerge and compete, and the ongoing shift in mobile network architecture has allowed for the creation of a vibrant marketplace where networks can be deployed with a more modular design without being dependent upon a single vendor. 

A cast of new players has entered the market in recent years, focusing on edge networks, cloud computing, device to device technologies, signal processing, beamforming, radio systems and more.

Open RAN Policy Coalition member CEOs Paul Jacobs of XCOM-Labs and Ray Dolan of Cohere Technologies hosted FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr for a fireside chat on how startups and emerging companies will impact Open RAN and technology leadership for 5G and advanced wireless networks.

The discussion centered on the importance of promoting a vibrant ecosystem to enable creative solutions that are interoperable and standards-based. Breaking down barriers to open interfaces will drive competition, lower the barrier to entry for new innovators, and pave the way for next generation networks.

Following was a panel discussion featuring: 

  • Monica Paolini (Moderator), Principal, Senza Fili
  • Brian Deutsch, Chief Executive Officer, Pivotal Commware
  • Tim O’Shea, Chief Technology Officer, DeepSig
  • Eric Stonestrom, Chief Executive Officer, Airspan Networks 

Speakers addressed key questions including:

  • What is the role of emerging companies in creating innovation in the Open RAN ecosystem?
  • What steps can policymakers take to create economic opportunities, increase supply chain diversity and promote competition?
  • Is any network equipment Open RAN compliant now?
  • In addition to providing cost benefits, can Open RAN also provide opportunities for improved network capability?
  • As the Open RAN ecosystem matures, how can operators minimize their RAN investments without compromising coverage?

How Will an Open RAN Facilitate a Diverse, Competitive and Secure Ecosystem for 5G and Beyond?

March 9, 2021
3:00 p.m. ET

The Open RAN Policy Coalition is pleased to present a virtual discussion on March 9, “How Will an Open RAN Facilitate a Diverse, Competitive and Secure Ecosystem for 5G and Beyond?”

The discussion will feature a fireside chat with Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director, Open RAN Policy Coalition.

The advent of 5G has prompted a shift in mobile network architecture towards a disaggregated approach that uses open and interoperable interfaces in the radio access network (RAN). Open RAN allows networks to be deployed with a more modular design without being dependent on a single vendor. It can also lower barriers to entry for new innovators and create economic opportunities while increasing innovation and promoting competition and diversity in the wireless supply chain.

The event will include a panel discussion featuring:  

  • David Shepardson, Correspondent, Thomson Reuters (Moderator)
  • Mehran Hadipour, Vice President of Business Development and Alliances, Robin
  • Christopher Roberti, Senior Vice President of Cyber, Intelligence, and Security, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Jayne Stancavage, Global Executive Director, Digital Infrastructure Policy, Intel Corporation

Speakers will address key questions including: 

  • How can policymakers and the private sector work together to facilitate a diverse, competitive and secure ecosystem for 5G and beyond?
  • What steps can Congress and the new Administration take to promote the adoption of Open RAN?
  • How can policymakers incentivize open, interoperable network architectures without picking winners and losers in the marketplace?

Innovation and Open Standards for a Diverse and Competitive Market

December 16, 2020
1:00 p.m. EST

As mobile networks move into 5G and beyond, open interfaces in the radio access network will help ensure interoperability across different players in the ecosystem, lowering the barrier to entry for new innovators, spurring competition and expanding the supply chain.

Open RAN specifications allow pioneering companies to develop products, software solutions and reference designs in a diverse and competitive global market. Global standards create opportunities for interoperability of scalable solutions. Several carriers are already starting to trial and deploy open interfaces based on O-RAN Alliance Specifications. Please join us for a webinar to discuss the intersection of Open RAN policy and technical standards for promoting a vibrant marketplace of suppliers that will enable creative solutions that are interoperable and standards-based.

The event will feature a panel discussion including:  

  • Peter Rysavy, President, Rysavy Research LLC (Moderator)
  • Anil Bhandari, Vice President of Product Management, Altiostar
  • Lyndon Ong, Principal Network Architect, Ciena
  • Robert Pepper, Head, Global Connectivity Policy and Planning, Facebook
  • Ganesh Shenbagaraman, Head of Integrated Products and Ecosystems, Radisys


Open RAN Policy Roadmap: A Pathway to Accelerate International Open RAN Deployments

December 1, 2020
8:00 a.m. EST

The potential of Open RAN is being embraced worldwide, with deployments already in motion on five continents. The adoption of open standards and interoperable interfaces has been shown to lower barriers to entry for new innovators and allows networks to be deployed without being dependent upon a single vendor.

This webinar includes a panel discussion highlighting policies that governments have put in place to promote Open RAN, the current state of Open RAN adoption internationally, and how an open network architecture can lead to benefits such as increased network agility and flexibility, cost savings and the creation of a vibrant international marketplace that will drive advanced wireless networks for 5G and beyond.

Following the panel discussion, the Open RAN Policy Coalition releases its Policy Roadmap, outlining the steps that governments and policymakers can take to accelerate adoption of open standards in the RAN and promote a network ecosystem that is more diverse, competitive and secure. 

Featured speakers include:

  • Mr. Scott Bailey, Head of the Telecoms Diversification Unit, Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), Government of the United Kingdom
  • Mr. Eiji Makiguchi, Director-General of the Global Strategy Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications (MIC), Government of Japan
  • Ms. Claudia Selli, Executive Director, European Legislative and Political Affairs, AT&T (Moderator)
  • Mr. Alexander Botting, International Programs Director, Open RAN Policy Coalition


Open RAN 101: Promoting a Diverse and Competitive Market for 5G

Featuring House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

August 4, 2020
11:00 a.m. ET

An essential part of the 5G technology evolution is the rapid implementation and sanctity of 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) technology. By standardizing or “opening” the protocols and interfaces between the various subcomponents in the RAN, we will move to an environment where networks can be deployed with a more modular design without being dependent upon a single vendor. 

Please join us as we discuss Open RAN technology and how the U.S. Congress can help facilitate a network evolution with the potential to create economic opportunities while increasing supply chain diversity and promoting competition.

The webinar will also answer key questions such as:

  • What is Open RAN?
  • How do open and interoperable interfaces within the RAN promote competition and innovation for advanced wireless technologies including 5G?
  • Why should policymakers be focused on Open RAN now? 

Following keynote remarks from Ranking Member Walden and Congresswoman Matsui will be a panel discussion including:

  • Chris Boyer (Moderator), Chairman, Open RAN Policy Coalition and Vice President of Global Security and Technology Policy, AT&T
  • John Baker, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Mavenir
  • Doug Brake, Director, Broadband and Spectrum Policy, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
  • Brian Hendricks, Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs, Nokia Americas
  • Takehiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the 6G Laboratories, NTT DOCOMO, Inc.  

#OpenRAN101