Open RAN Policy Coalition

Today, EchoStar Corporation hosted the grand opening of the Open RAN Center for Integration and Deployment (ORCID) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. With the support of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce, and our incredible consortium and technology partners, Open RAN Center for Integration and Deployment (ORCID) is set to accelerate the adoption of Open RAN technologies and drive the future of wireless innovation. This state-of-the-art facility, funded by a $50M grant from the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, is the only lab in the world offering a complete field test environment against a commercial-grade Open RAN network. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Sarah Morris joined EchoStar co-founder Charlie Ergen and representatives from Mavenir, Fujitsu, VMware, Dell Technologies, Amazon Web Services (AWS), VIAVI Solutions, and Keysight Technologies for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to advance Open RAN! Learn more and register to test your solution at https://www.orcid.us/home  #OpenRAN #5G #Innovation

Congratulations to EchoStar and Partners on the Launch of Open RAN Center for Integration and Deployment (ORCID), a facility offering trusted participants in the U.S. and around the world the opportunity to test and validate Open RAN solutions using a live Open RAN 5G network. The project is supported by a $50 million grant, awarded to EchoStar (parent company of DISH Wireless) in January by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund. ORCID’s “living laboratory” features a real field test setup with the goal of helping to drive the Open RAN ecosystem from the lab to commercial deployment and allow participants contribute to the development, deployment, and adoption of open and interoperable standards-based radio access networks. More on the ORPC blog: https://lnkd.in/eEZscReR

The Open RAN Policy Coalition was thrilled to participate alongside Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman at USAID, DAS Steve Lang at U.S. Department of State, and the governments of #Japan and #Philippines as we discussed ways industry, and the three governments could work more closely to deploy #openran not only in the three countries but globally. https://lnkd.in/eByguCjq Developing Critical and Emerging Technologies   We commit to harnessing the talents and ingenuity of our citizens to seize cutting-edge technological opportunities. The United States, subject to Congressional notification, and Japan, with support from Japanese industry, intend to provide at least $8 million for Open Radio Access Network (RAN) field trials and the Asia Open RAN Academy based in Manila, to enable future commercial deployment and an open, interoperable, secure, reliable, and trusted information communications technology ecosystem in the Philippines. This builds on prior U.S. and Japanese investment of over $9 million for these projects in the Philippines. The government of Japan is also seriously considering further investments for the potential commercial deployment of Open RAN technology in the Philippines, including from the Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project. The United States and Japan welcome the Philippines’ plan to pilot Open RAN in its national broadband program and free Wi-Fi project. The United States and Japan commend the Philippines’ commitment to develop a national Open RAN policy framework, reaffirming the Philippines’ endorsement of open, interoperable, and trusted architectures. This year, our three countries look forward to holding the first trilateral Cyber and Digital Dialogue to explore additional cooperation opportunities.   We intend to pursue a new semiconductor workforce development initiative, through which students from the Philippines will receive world-class training at leading American and Japanese universities, to help secure our nations’ semiconductor supply chains. This initiative complements the expansion of semiconductor investments in the Philippines that would strengthen supply chain resiliency among our three nations. Furthermore, through the CHIPS and Science Act’s International Technology Security and Innovation Fund, the United States and the Philippines plan to coordinate our efforts to develop and expand the Philippine semiconductor workforce to strengthen the global supply chain.

🇨🇷🇺🇲🇨🇿 Congratulations to Costa Rica on becoming the 10th country to join the Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity. Another great outcome from the Costa Rica 5G Summit! The US and Costa Rica agreed: "Based on the 2021 Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity, we aim to enhance telecommunications supplier diversity in Latin America. This involves exploring Open RAN-based approaches to 4G/5G through technical support, feasibility studies, and fostering telecommunications innovation." Costa Rica's journey on digital security is something to behold. Since being the victim of a highly destructive cyber attack in 2022, they have set about fundamentally rebuilding their digital infrastructure on more secure and trusted foundations. A model for the region and the world! I've the utmost admiration for what Minister Paula Bogantes, Hubert Vargas Picado and the team have achieved in such a short time. And very proud of the role that the US has played in supporting them. https://lnkd.in/d6dpfYVn

Excellent to hear from DNSA Anne Neuberger, Minister Paula Bogantes, and Ambassador Cynthia Telles to begin the Regional Workshop on 5G and Open RAN in Costa Rica. 15 governments are represented, along with more than a dozen US agencies, at what promised to be an excellent event!

Today, Open RAN Policy Coalition Executive Director Diane Rinaldo testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in a hearing on “Spectrum and National Security.”  Her testimony focused on the need for a sufficient amount of licensed spectrum in the pipeline, in order to deploy more Open RAN and reap its supply chain security benefits.   The journey of the Open RAN movement is a testament to innovation and opportunity based on robust competition in diverse markets. To maintain momentum, we must adopt a holistic approach to countering global market distortions and developing competitive parity for U.S. and allied vendors.   Today, much of our Coalition’s work has been focused on international efforts. As developing nations look to deploy 5G, Open RAN is a viable and desirable option, offering a cost-effective and adaptable solution. And while our education mission at the Coalition is incredibly important to bring heightened awareness to international partners, Coalition members are eager to deploy in the United States. Unfortunately, additional movement in the U.S. has been handicapped due to the expiration of spectrum auction authority. With no new bands in the pipeline for future deployments, Open RAN has limited opportunities to grow further in the United States.   Diane closed out her remarks by noting that continued success is not a given, and urged the Committee to reauthorize spectrum auction authority that will give us the indispensable resource that we need to compete. She also noted that the geopolitical battle for secure networks will not be won between governments; it can only be won by market forces. https://lnkd.in/eNA8H-UA

We are excited to welcome a new member to the Open RAN Policy Coalition! Federated Wireless recently joined our membership of over 50 global technology companies. We look forward to working together in support of policies that promote the adoption of open and interoperable solutions in the Radio Access Network. #OpenRAN

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 congratulations to AT&T, Verizon and their partner organizations on this grant award from NTIA and the U.S. Department of Commerce,” said Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director of the Open RAN Policy Coalition. “This diverse group of carriers, suppliers and universities is uniquely positioned to advance the development of Open RAN testing and evaluation, which will ultimately drive greater innovation, investment, and competition in the market for telecommunications network infrastructure.” https://lnkd.in/eGu4c7Mj

Our Executive Director Diane Rinaldo testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology yesterday, in a hearing on “Leveraging American Communications Leadership with Open RAN Networks.” Her testimony focused 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 she touched on:   1. 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 – it is essential that these funds are fully deployed within the next two years.   2. The undeniable truth is that we face global challenges to maintaining our competitive edge. While Open RAN reduces costs in hardware and software and creates the possibility to break vendor lock-in, heavy foreign investments tip the scales more than those cost savings can ever compete with. Simplifying and expediting the processes for our companies to compete effectively is necessary to shorten that funding gap.   3. The Export-Import Bank (EXIM) and the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) must have more flexibility in financing wireless telecommunications projects, especially those promoting strategic security interests, including Open RAN. Our proposal is simple: if a trusted supplier is competing for a global project against, or proposing to “rip and replace” a company on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “covered entity” list, EXIM and DFC would have the ability to waive certain statutory financial risk restrictions.   The journey of the Open RAN movement is a testament to innovation and opportunity. To maintain momentum, it is imperative that the funds allocated under the Wireless Innovation Fund be fully and promptly utilized. We must also adopt a holistic approach to counter global market distortions and ensure competitive parity for U.S. and allied vendors. The Coalition seeks not to reinvent the wheel but to ease the path forward, ensuring the continued evolution and success of the telecommunications industry.   https://lnkd.in/eHTSSSaY

New on the ORPC blog today: Beyond the Hype: Navigating the Cost-Effective Future of 5G with Open RAN   5G 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 keyboard rather than manual service operations.    In the blog post, we go beyond virtualization and software in general to talk about Open RAN cost, particularly compared to traditional systems.   You can read the full post here: https://lnkd.in/e7m7EjXf