0660IF2406
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Purpose: Eridan is building the world's lightest, most power-efficient and cost-efficient OpenRAN small-cell radio unit (RU).
This grant will accelerate the development of Eridan's carrier-grade RU, which is currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 5.
The enabling technology is a switch-mode direct polar transmitter in gallium nitride.
By eliminating the analog RF power amplifier, and replacing it with a digital switch, Eridan's transmitter is simultaneously power efficient, accurate, and wideband-tunable across FRL.
Activities to be performed: The work in this proposal will incorporate laboratory capabilities for a four-transmit four receive (4T4R) RU at 100 MHz instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) into the existing product architecture, execute a variety of design improvements for cost, manufacturability, security, power efficiency, and fund additional software development to meet mobile network operator (MNO) requirements.
The radio will exit the program at TRL 7 and MRL 8.
Expected outcomes: Through this proposal the applicant will address reduced deployment costs, operating costs, and spectrum purchase costs for MNOs.
Intended beneficiaries: MNOs that are seeking RU options for power-efficient, mid-band small-cell infill.
Subrecipient activities: Citymesh and Rakuten Mobile, the subrecipients of this project, will support the deployment of the Open Eridan RU.
This grant will accelerate the development of Eridan's carrier-grade RU, which is currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 5.
The enabling technology is a switch-mode direct polar transmitter in gallium nitride.
By eliminating the analog RF power amplifier, and replacing it with a digital switch, Eridan's transmitter is simultaneously power efficient, accurate, and wideband-tunable across FRL.
Activities to be performed: The work in this proposal will incorporate laboratory capabilities for a four-transmit four receive (4T4R) RU at 100 MHz instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) into the existing product architecture, execute a variety of design improvements for cost, manufacturability, security, power efficiency, and fund additional software development to meet mobile network operator (MNO) requirements.
The radio will exit the program at TRL 7 and MRL 8.
Expected outcomes: Through this proposal the applicant will address reduced deployment costs, operating costs, and spectrum purchase costs for MNOs.
Intended beneficiaries: MNOs that are seeking RU options for power-efficient, mid-band small-cell infill.
Subrecipient activities: Citymesh and Rakuten Mobile, the subrecipients of this project, will support the deployment of the Open Eridan RU.
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
Sunnyvale,
California
94086-5151
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Eridan Communications was awarded
Power-Efficient OpenRAN Small-Cell Radio Unit Grant
Project Grant 0660IF2406
worth $36,809,409
from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in January 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Sunnyvale California United States.
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.
$9,266,678 (20.0%) 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
$36.8M
Federal Obligation
$9.3M
Non-Federal Obligation
$46.1M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
0660IF2406
SAI Number
0660IF2406_0
Award ID URI
EXE
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
1333ND DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST
Funding Office
1331K2 DEPT OF COMMERCE NTIA
Awardee UEI
M5BLJBNAG1L9
Awardee CAGE
703M5
Performance District
CA-17
Senators
Dianne Feinstein
Alejandro Padilla
Alejandro Padilla
Modified: 12/20/24