The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has invested $19.4 million in two projects focused on the advancement of wireless networks.
The agency said Friday the development of open and interoperable wireless networks, supported by the $1.5 billion Wireless Innovation Fund, are intended to strengthen global supply chain resilience and drive competition.
Latest NTIA Grants
The final batch of grants from the second Notice of Funding Opportunity will support projects involving open radio unit innovation and commercialization. The selected companies will collaborate with a mobile network operator to commercialize their projects.
DeepSig received an estimated $10 million for its AI-Enhanced O-RU Massive MIMO project, which enables Open Radio Unit and chipset vendors to implement advanced AI functions. Recon RF secured $9.4 million in funds to work on its project called Ultra-Efficient Front-End-Modules for 5G/6G Open Radio Units, which aims to build Front-End Modules for next generation 5G/6G open radio units.
“Wireless innovation is a major driver for U.S. competition and leadership globally,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in open and interoperable wireless networks will help secure global leadership and increase competition in the wireless market.”
NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson, the assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information, added, “Our awards today are tackling a major wireless network expense head-on with support to bring more open radio units to market. These projects will shore up the hardware supply chain and create new opportunities for companies from the U.S. and its allies along the way.”
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