The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has become a member of the O‑RAN Alliance.
“By joining the O‑RAN Alliance, NIST will strengthen U.S. leadership in wireless technologies and support stable, diverse supply chains, which remain a priority for this administration,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Laurie E. Locascio.
“NIST will also advocate for open and transparent standards for 5G and future wireless technologies to help ensure data privacy and defend against cyber threats.”
The O‑RAN Alliance works to accelerate adoption of Open RAN (Open Radio Access Network) technology across the telecommunications industry.
Open RAN seeks to broaden the range of equipment available to network operators in order to stimulate innovation, reduce costs, and enhance security. By relying on interoperable standards, Open RAN lowers barriers to entry for new vendors and helps reduce market concentration by a small number of large suppliers.
NIST runs a dedicated Open RAN program and operates a laboratory equipped with advanced measurement facilities, including anechoic and reverberation chambers, robotic antenna systems, and testbeds designed to optimise open‑source 5G and other wireless systems.
NIST’s technical expertise and laboratory capabilities are expected to be valuable assets to the O‑RAN Alliance as the industry works to mature and deploy Open RAN solutions.
“NIST has unique capabilities for assessing the performance, security, and interoperability of Open RAN systems,” Locascio added.
“Through active participation in the alliance, NIST will help accelerate the transition of these standards from development to market deployment.”
(Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash)
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