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Can Policies and Industry Together Make Open RAN a Global Reality? | i14y Lab Summit 2024
PUSHING OPEN
Can Policies and Industry Together Make Open RAN a Global Reality?

How can policies and industry collaboration fuel the global scalability of Open RAN? That question Harald Berninghaus (BMDV), Kate Dimsdale (NTIA), and Wlfgang Kopf (Deutsche Telekom) tried to answer in this panel at the i14y Lab Summit 2024. Moderated by Kristian Toivo, the discussion highlighted the crucial role that government policies and industry involvement play in pushing Open RAN from a technical vision to widespread reality.

Government Investment and Success in Germany

Harald Berninghaus, representing Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), reflected on the country's substantial investment in Open RAN. He explained that Germany provided 50% of the initial funding for projects such as the i14y Lab and O-RAN deployments in Neubrandenburg and Plauen. Berninghaus emphasized that this investment, initially part of an economic recovery package following the COVID-19 crisis, has exceeded expectations. The international recognition garnered by the i14y Lab and the involvement of major telecom operators underscore its success.

 

Looking ahead, Berninghaus expressed hope for more companies to engage in testing and deployment, marking a step toward Open RAN maturation. His comments hint at a future where Open RAN plays a key role in fostering innovation, and government-industry collaboration continues to strengthen.

Government Investment and Success in Germany
EU's Role in Open RAN Advancement

In his remarks, Wolfgang Kopf emphasized the need for stronger support at the EU level to advance Open RAN initiatives. He pointed out that while Germany has played a pioneering role, current budgetary restrictions pose challenges. However, Kopf remains optimistic, advocating for continued investment in laboratories like i14y Lab, which contribute to technological innovation. He referenced the Draghi report, which highlights the financial requirements for revitalizing Europe's innovation sector, and stressed that coordination and standardization at the EU level are crucial. According to Kopf, relying solely on efforts from Germany and the U.S. will not be sufficient to achieve widespread success in this area.

EU's Role in Open RAN Advancement
U.S. Policy and International Cooperation

Kate Dimsdale, Telecommunications Policy Specialist at the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration), provided an update on the U.S. government’s approach to fostering telecommunications supplier diversity. With significant funding initiatives such as the $1.5 billion Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, the U.S. government aims to support research and development in the Open RAN ecosystem. Dimmesdale noted that recent funding rounds received an overwhelming response, with applications totaling $3 billion, far exceeding the available $420 million for the current round.

 

She also underscored the importance of international cooperation, citing the collaboration between U.S. and European labs like i14y. NTIA’s engagement with global partners ensures that open network architectures can be developed and tested comprehensively, creating a robust foundation for Open RAN adoption worldwide.

U.S. Policy and International Cooperation
Policy as a Catalyst for Open RAN Adoption

The discussion frequently returned to the importance of policy frameworks that enable innovation in the telecommunications sector. Berninghaus emphasized the role of international policy discussions, like those at the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), in aligning on shared goals such as security and energy efficiency. These collaborative efforts are crucial as Open RAN evolves alongside emerging technologies like 6G.

 

Dimmesdale highlighted how government-led initiatives, such as the 2021 Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity, offer high-level guidance on how governments can incentivize the industry-led push for Open RAN. She pointed to the role of public funding, supportive policies, and international cooperation in accelerating the development of open network architectures.

Policy as a Catalyst for Open RAN Adoption
Looking Ahead

As the panel concluded, it became clear that Open RAN’s future depends not only on technological advances but also on the combined efforts of policymakers, industry leaders, and international cooperation. Germany’s early success, Deutsche Telekom’s leadership, and the U.S. government’s substantial investments all point to a promising future for Open RAN.

 

The question now is how quickly the ecosystem can scale and mature to become a foundational part of the global telecommunications infrastructure. With ongoing collaboration, the prospects for Open RAN look bright, promising a future of more flexible, innovative, and diversified networks.

 

You can watch the entire discussion here. 

 

For more information about the i14y Lab Summit 2024 and the other talks and panel discussions, visit our event page.