0060IF2405
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Purpose: Microelectronics Technology Inc. (MTI) proposes project “Development of five Open RAN macro radios for operation with four worldwide MNOs” through which they will develop a family of five energy-efficient, state-of-the-art Open RAN macro radios for operation with four worldwide mobile network operators (MNOs) and in coordination with three distributed unit (DU) suppliers.
The lead product is designed for use with US operator Dish Wireless.
The other four macro products are variants in frequency band or band combinations to the lead radio.
Each radio will comply with future 3GPP Release 19 and O-RAN Fronthaul Version 16 standards.
MTI will work with its project partner Mavenir to integrate all network elements within the Dish network and demonstrate true interoperability in a multi-vendor environment.
Activities to be performed: MTI will apply innovative test and integration methodologies for a multi-vendor environment, leading to faster time to market.
Beyond IoT (Interoperability Test) completion, MTI will direct integration activities performed by a system integrator, who is assigned to re-aggregate O-RAN network elements and responsible for end-to-end (E2E) and field testing.
MTI will implement new energy savings features, such as adoption of energy efficient Gallium Nitride (GaN) devices, resulting in lower power consumption and lighter weight.
The new radio will consolidate more functionality with fewer components, leading to a smaller product.
MTI is further modernizing product security, including new measures to safeguard the supply chain.
All of these innovations represent significant advances to MTI's current generation of macro O-RUs.
Expected outcomes: With each O-RU sharing similar requirements, MTI will co-develop all five radios concurrently, using a common platform.
By creating a portfolio of O-RUs with the SRFA1 funding, MTI can address an important industry-wide need, the lack of standards-compliant radios supporting the latest O-RAN and security specifications in the Open RAN marketplace.
At the conclusion of the grant, these radios will be fully FCC- or national regulatory-certified and ready for commercial deployment.
Intended beneficiaries: Designed for two of Dish's licensed sub-6GHz bands, the dual band lead radio product supports wideband operation across 250MHz.
Subrecipient activities: Once interoperability is confirmed, these radios will be deployed in Rakuten Mobile and Mobicom networks, the subrecipients of this award.
The lead product is designed for use with US operator Dish Wireless.
The other four macro products are variants in frequency band or band combinations to the lead radio.
Each radio will comply with future 3GPP Release 19 and O-RAN Fronthaul Version 16 standards.
MTI will work with its project partner Mavenir to integrate all network elements within the Dish network and demonstrate true interoperability in a multi-vendor environment.
Activities to be performed: MTI will apply innovative test and integration methodologies for a multi-vendor environment, leading to faster time to market.
Beyond IoT (Interoperability Test) completion, MTI will direct integration activities performed by a system integrator, who is assigned to re-aggregate O-RAN network elements and responsible for end-to-end (E2E) and field testing.
MTI will implement new energy savings features, such as adoption of energy efficient Gallium Nitride (GaN) devices, resulting in lower power consumption and lighter weight.
The new radio will consolidate more functionality with fewer components, leading to a smaller product.
MTI is further modernizing product security, including new measures to safeguard the supply chain.
All of these innovations represent significant advances to MTI's current generation of macro O-RUs.
Expected outcomes: With each O-RU sharing similar requirements, MTI will co-develop all five radios concurrently, using a common platform.
By creating a portfolio of O-RUs with the SRFA1 funding, MTI can address an important industry-wide need, the lack of standards-compliant radios supporting the latest O-RAN and security specifications in the Open RAN marketplace.
At the conclusion of the grant, these radios will be fully FCC- or national regulatory-certified and ready for commercial deployment.
Intended beneficiaries: Designed for two of Dish's licensed sub-6GHz bands, the dual band lead radio product supports wideband operation across 250MHz.
Subrecipient activities: Once interoperability is confirmed, these radios will be deployed in Rakuten Mobile and Mobicom networks, the subrecipients of this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT, AND ADOPTION OF OPEN AND INTEROPERABLE RADIO ACCESS NETWORKS (RAN). IN THIS SECOND NOFO, NTIA AIMS TO ADVANCE OPEN RADIO UNIT (RU) COMMERCIALIZATION AND INNOVATION BY FUNDING ACTIVITIES THAT 1) ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN RU PRODUCTS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY MEET CARRIER NEEDS AND ARE READY FOR COMMERCIAL TRIALS, AND 2) IMPROVE THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE AND CAPABILITIES OF OPEN RUS THROUGH TARGETED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Taiwan
Geographic Scope
Foreign
Microelectronics Technology was awarded
Open RAN Macro Radios Development for Global Mobile Network Operators
Project Grant 0060IF2405
worth $34,962,846
from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in January 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Taiwan.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 11.038 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program – Expanding Testing and Evaluation.
$8,322,594 (19.0%) of this Project Grant was funded by non-federal sources.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 12/20/24
Period of Performance
1/1/25
Start Date
12/31/26
End Date
Funding Split
$35.0M
Federal Obligation
$8.3M
Non-Federal Obligation
$43.3M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
0060IF2405
SAI Number
0060IF2405_0
Award ID URI
EXE
Awardee Classifications
Other
Awarding Office
1333ND DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST
Funding Office
1331K2 DEPT OF COMMERCE NTIA
Awardee UEI
W9J8EFEUQ8M6
Awardee CAGE
None
Performance District
Not Applicable
Modified: 12/20/24