DOD, National Spectrum Consortium look to boost O-RAN commercialization

The Defense Department and National Spectrum Consortium are seeking feedback on ways to boost the commercialization of Open Radio Access Networks across the nation.

Through a new call for white papers, the two entities want input from industry and academia to “help accelerate the development, manufacturing and testing” of O-RAN, a DOD press release said today, with officials hoping to use the responses to “identify obstacles to emerging or existing companies in accelerating” commercialization of the telecommunications architectures.

O-RAN development is a priority for the military, one that officials included in their May 2020 5G strategy document that outlined four lines of effort ranging from promoting technology to engaging partners in the U.S. government, abroad and within industry to shape outcomes.

Under the framework, the Pentagon pledged to “contribute to the development of advanced 5G network architectures,” with experimentation helping inform O-RAN designs that “will make it easier for companies to offer 5G services, thereby spurring innovation, competition, and acquisition options,” the strategy states.

Today’s release notes DOD and NSC plan to hold an industry day in July to review the submissions submitted under the call for white papers.

The notice comes after the DOD in April announced a new 5G competition, carrying awards of up to $3 million for hardware or software solutions for subsystems that meet certain stipulations, to advance the development and adoption of an open 5G network.