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Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund

America’s Wireless Innovation Fund:Securing Our Future

Overview

5G and other wireless technologies are already changing our world for the better, and they have the potential to do even more. Technologists are hard at work further developing 5G technologies, making them more secure and efficient. Artificial intelligence (AI) may even play a role in the future of telecommunications by helping manage 5G systems. As 5G further evolves, it will transform how we work, live, do business, and care for our health.​

Although 5G is dynamic, the 5G equipment market is static. A small group of companies dominate the market, some of whom pose a serious national security threat. The lack of competition degrades supply chains, causes higher prices, and prevents emerging players from entering the market.

Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN) are key to tackling these market challenges. Traditional networks rely on a single company to supply every component. Open RAN, on the other hand, is interoperable. Network architects can curate parts from different suppliers to build the best possible network. New suppliers can now enter the market with one part instead of an entire network architecture. By transitioning to Open RAN, the U.S. and partner countries can help the wireless ecosystem flourish for 5G and beyond.

Participate in the Upcoming NOFO Listening Session

September 26, 2024
10:00 PM TO 12:30 PM

Register to Attend

The Biden-Harris Administration will advance Open RAN through the $1.5 billion Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund. The Innovation Fund was authorized under the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 provided funding for the program. Over the next decade, the Innovation Fund will drive wireless innovation, competition, and supply chain resilience. Its investments will open new doors for companies from the United States and partner nations.

 

 

The Innovation Fund will:

  • Promote 5G+ technologies that are secure, open, and virtualized.
  • Advance the deployment of open and interoperable equipment.
  • Support the integration of networks with multiple brands of equipment.
  • Identify criteria to decide if equipment follows open standards.

 

The Innovation Fund recently announced an upcoming Listening Session, to inform the future Notice of Funding Opportunity.

NTIA is eager to implement the Innovation Fund. We will share more details about the programs as they become available. If you have questions about the Innovation Fund, please contact us. You can also subscribe for updates about the Fund.

Related content

Frequently Asked Questions

Overview:

The Frequently Asked Questions page is intended to clarify and provide guidance on information set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on April 12, 2023. Following the release of this document, further questions may be submitted to InnovationFund@ntia.gov for consideration to include in future FAQ documents. The below FAQs are for informational purposes only and are intended solely to assist potential applicants in better understanding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund and the application requirements set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this program. The FAQs do not and are not intended to supersede, modify, or otherwise alter applicable statutory or regulatory requirements, or the specific application requirements set forth in the NOFO. In all cases, statutory and regulatory mandates, and the requirements set forth in the NOFO, shall prevail over any inconsistencies contained in the below FAQs.

Program(s):

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO 1) - Research and Development, Testing and Evaluation

Overview:

The Innovation Fund aims to foster competition, lower costs for consumers and network operators, support innovation across the global telecommunications ecosystem, and strengthen the 5G supply chain. The overall objectives include unlocking opportunities for innovative companies, particularly small and medium enterprises, to compete in a market historically dominated by a few suppliers, some of which present a high security risk.

Program(s):

Frequently Asked Questions

Overview:

The Frequently Asked Questions page is intended to clarify and provide guidance on information set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on April 12, 2023. Following the release of this document, further questions may be submitted to InnovationFund@ntia.gov for consideration to include in future FAQ documents. The below FAQs are for informational purposes only and are intended solely to assist potential applicants in better understanding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund and the application requirements set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this program. The FAQs do not and are not intended to supersede, modify, or otherwise alter applicable statutory or regulatory requirements, or the specific application requirements set forth in the NOFO. In all cases, statutory and regulatory mandates, and the requirements set forth in the NOFO, shall prevail over any inconsistencies contained in the below FAQs.

Program(s):

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