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NTIA Leads International 5G Policy Training Event

Author
Jaisha Wray, Associate Administrator, Office of International Affairs

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) held a virtual joint seminar on 5G from January 12-14, 2021. Hundreds of participants, representing fifty countries, tuned in throughout the training. Senior officials from across the United States government explained their respective roles in our nation’s 5G policymaking process. Several presenters noted the importance of secure and diverse supply chains to developed and developing countries. Additional speakers from industry, civil society, and foreign governments contributed their own policy insights and experiences.

The first day of the seminar focused on how the recently released U.S. National Strategy to Secure 5G and its Implementation Plan were developed. The next day included detailed overviews of spectrum issues and risk considerations when building a secure 5G network. Additionally, the Embassy of the Czech Republic highlighted the goals of the “Prague Proposals” on 5G security, which seek to clarify the risks of untrustworthy vendors and the benefits of adopting best practices to secure 5G networks. The Prague Proposals have been endorsed by a number of countries, including the United States, with efforts now directed toward the creation of a repository of best practices. 

The training’s third day centered on developments related to telecommunications vendor diversity, particularly open radio access networks (Open RAN). Speakers outlined technical aspects of Open RAN, the growing global momentum behind it, and the diverse range of potential benefits for network operators and governments, including: lower barriers to entry, greater market competition, and improved vendor choice. NTIA briefed participants on its numerous efforts underway to support U.S. competitiveness in 5G, especially the extensive technical and policy activities aimed at advancing vendor diversity in the United States and around the world.

Video transcripts and other presentation materials can be obtained by contacting Jamal Anderson at USTTI. NTIA greatly appreciates the thoughtful engagement of everyone who participated in the 5G training seminar. NTIA and USTTI will review post-session surveys to ensure that activities like these provide the greatest possible value to participants and continue to effectively highlight U.S. priorities.

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