Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation | NTIA PWSCIF 24 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for NTIA PWSCIF 24 01

The Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation (Funding Opportunity Number: NTIA PWSCIF 24 01) is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered by NTIA under the broader Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund. This is the second Notice of Funding Opportunity released under the program, and it focuses specifically on accelerating progress toward open and interoperable radio access networks (Open RAN). The central idea is to strengthen the wireless supply chain and expand real-world adoption of Open RAN by pushing key hardware and technology components closer to carrier-ready deployment.

This particular round is centered on the radio unit (RU), which is one of the largest and most critical pieces of a mobile network and a practical starting point for operators that want to try Open RAN without taking on excessive integration risk. The RU is treated as an "easy entry point" because it allows Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to modernize or diversify parts of their network while limiting disruption. NTIA is essentially trying to remove the biggest blockers that keep open RU options from being purchased at scale, especially during upcoming equipment procurement cycles when carriers decide what technology they will deploy next.

The NOFO supports two main categories of work. First, it funds efforts that speed up the development and maturation of open RU products so they meet carrier requirements and are ready for commercial trials. That means moving beyond early prototypes and into a stage where performance, reliability, interoperability, and operational readiness are credible enough for real operator testing. Second, it funds targeted research and development designed to improve the performance and capabilities of open RUs. This includes advancing technical features and overall system behavior so open RU solutions can meet or exceed what carriers expect from established, traditional RAN vendors.

The broader purpose is to create momentum that makes Open RAN a more attractive and feasible market option. NTIA is signaling that widespread deployment of open RUs, combined with an ability for suppliers to deliver these components at scale, can help unlock greater adoption of the full Open RAN ecosystem over time. In other words, if carriers can confidently buy and deploy open RUs that perform well and are available from multiple suppliers, it becomes easier for them to consider additional open and interoperable network components, which supports competition, resiliency, and diversification in the wireless equipment market.

Eligible applicants include for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, industry groups, and partnerships made up of two or more eligible entities. The notice also specifies that applicants to SRFA 1 must meet additional eligibility requirements referenced in Section 2.2 of the NOFO. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a grant instrument, with activity focused on science, technology, and other research and development under CFDA 11.038. The application closing date listed is July 17, 2024, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of May 7, 2024.

• The National Institute of Standards and Technology in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.038.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for NTIA PWSCIF 24 01

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