FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced the US telecoms regulator will host an OpenRAN showcase next month.

OpenRAN is one of the industry’s most exciting new trends. The interoperable equipment provides greater flexibility to carriers and helps them to avoid vendor lock-in.

Governments are increasingly becoming cheerleaders of OpenRAN due to the security benefits of having many vendors in a network. This is especially true in many Western countries following geopolitical events in recent years.

Rosenworcel said:

“OpenRAN can help drive 5G security, innovation, and vendor diversity in the United States.

This showcase is an opportunity to jump-start US innovation in this critical technology and to build on our strengths in network infrastructure and software.”

The decision by many governments to ban equipment from Huawei over national security concerns showed the dangers of relying on a handful of vendors. The subsequent removal and replacement of Huawei’s equipment from networks around the world has been costly and delayed the rollout of 5G networks.

A webcast will be hosted by the FCC on June 29 that will provide an opportunity for fixed and mobile network operators to hear from vendors whose interoperable, open interface, standards-based 5G network equipment and services will be ready and available for purchase and installation by January 1, 2022 or sooner.

“By making information about OpenRAN more readily available and by connecting the various stakeholders invested in this technology, we are making sure companies can continue to innovate and we are encouraging network operators to invest in network security,” added Rosenworcel.

“If we do these things right, we have an opportunity to build a bigger market for more secure 5G equipment.”

The showcase is scheduled to take place at 9:30am ET and can be viewed here.

(Image Credit: FCC)

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