The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has announced the first $5.5 million in grants from a $1.5 billion fund focused on supporting the development open, interoperable wireless network tech in the U.S.
The first few grants from the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, also known as the Wireless Innovation Fund, are going to projects at Northeastern University, New York University and DeepSig Inc., which focuses on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in wireless communications systems.
“Our effort will improve the performance and competitiveness of the Open RAN Air-Interface by leveraging DeepSig’s Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tools for modeling and measuring the wireless environment under real world conditions. Developing new Generative AI tools for Open RAN will accelerate the adoption and performance of Open RAN for 5G, and future AI-Native 5G Advanced and 6G,” said Jim Shea, CEO of DeepSig.
DeepSig will receive a grant of nearly $1.5 million to support an R&D program to “dramatically improve the fidelity, speed, and repeatability of Open RAN Air-Interface performance testing by employing data and AI to model the propagation and interference environment more accurately and efficiently,” according to the grant description.
Meanwhile, New York University will receive a $2 million grant to support development of testing and evaluation procedures for open and interoperable solutions for 5G-Advanced and beyond RAN components with a focus on “shared and adversarial” spectrum scenarios. Northeastern University will receive nearly $2 million to develop a “fine-grain, end-to-end, and accurate energy efficiency testing platform” called TENORAN, which is aimed at enabling construction of sustainable and energy-efficient wireless networks.
“The shift to open and interoperable networks is vital for our national and economic security. The development of new, open-architecture approaches to wireless networks will help to ensure that future wireless equipment is built by the U.S. and its global allies and partners – not vendors from nations that threaten our national security,” NTIA said in a release.
The Wireless Innovation Fund is part of the CHIPs and Science Act, and will dole out $1.5 billion over the next decade to support domestic R&D for Open RAN and advanced telecommunications capabilities. The first round of funding will ultimately consist of up to $140.5 million in grants, made on a rolling basis.
In other test news:
–Anritsu has launched a new “lite” model for 5G New Radio RF conformance testing in sub-6 GHz frequencies. The ME7873NR Lite model uses a single Radio Communication Test Station MT8000A, Anritsu said, compared to the conventional platform that uses multiple instruments. The model focuses on conformance tests for chipsets and mobile devices, as well as automated regression testing to support device verification. Anritsu is positioning the system as providing a fast economical testing option (with test times reduced by about 20% compared to the conventional platform) for 5G sub-6G transmission testing, with an upgrade path to its full ME7873NR model for more comprehensive conformance test cases.
–Keysight Technologies is supporting research on future 6G systems at Germany’s University of Stuttgart. The test company and university have a long-standing relationship, and in this instance, Keysight’s 6G Vector Component Analysis (VCA) solution is being used to support the University of Stuttgart’s Crosslink platform and integrate sub-terahertz vector network analysis with wideband modulation capabilities.
The VCA solution leverages Keysight’s N5245B PNA-X Microwave Network Analyzer, an M8199A Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG), broadband modulation distortion vector network analyzer (VNA) application software and vector signal analysis (VSA) software with Virginia Diodes (VDI) frequency extenders up to 330 GHz, according to the test company, which added that the VCA solution “enables unprecedented radio frequency (RF) component characterization under full complex modulated conditions.”
–Maury Microwave has completed its acquisition of Wireless Telecom Group, including its T&M business that includes the Boonton, Holzworth and Noisecom brands. WTG will continue to operate from its location in New Jersey as a division of Maury, and will continue to be led by GM Daniel Monopoli and current senior leadership, Maury said in a release.
Bill Pezza, executive chairman of the board at Maury Microwave, said that the finalization of this transaction “represents a significant step forward in our strategic plan” and enables the combined company “to provide even more comprehensive solutions and superior service to our customers.”
-Japanese tech company NEC said it has obtained O-RAN certification from Japan’s Open Testing & Integration Center (OTIC) for its 5G base station radio unit (RU). More details here.
-Private networks present a number of challenges for testing and assurance. By their nature, private networks are delivering some type of service aspect that cannot be achieved via the public network, whether that be more secure access, targeted coverage, or more sophisticated features such as high reliability or low latency. But how are those service levels ensured and maintained, and what are some of the factors in play? Read more in this story, recapping a conversation from Private Network Global Forum.
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