5160IF2418
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Purpose: The goal of this project is advancing the rapid growth and deployment of massive multiple input, multiple output (MMIMO) open radio units (O-RUs) into current and future networks.
Activities to be performed: Multiple trades will be studied to determine how network beamforming (NBF) will be implemented while keeping the O-RU performance within specifications.
Requirements for the demonstration of NBF will be determined; specifically, details on channel estimation, beamforming weight calculation and equalization as well as fronthaul requirements will be studied.
Additionally, the DeepSig Omniphy neural receiver will be ported to operate on reference hardware provided by Qualcomm and Fujitsu.
Expected outcomes: The result of this program will be a prototype manufacturing readiness level (MRL 4) with the manufacturing risk that hardware changes could be required to process all MMIMO layers.
DeepSig, Fujitsu, and Qualcomm are all commercially focused and have the resources to rapidly transition research to commercial O-RUs.
The project enables O-RU and chipset vendors to implement advanced artificial intelligence (AI) functions to engender a healthy and cost competitive MMIMO O-RU ecosystem.
Additionally, DeepSig expects this work to make AI enhancements available industrywide.
Intended beneficiaries: DeepSig will collaborate with project partners and others in ORAN and 3GPP standardization efforts to make AI/machine learning (ML) enhancements available industrywide.
Standardization will enable more vendors to operate in the telecom space and support small business efforts.
Subrecipient activities: DeepSig does not list any subrecipients in their application.
Activities to be performed: Multiple trades will be studied to determine how network beamforming (NBF) will be implemented while keeping the O-RU performance within specifications.
Requirements for the demonstration of NBF will be determined; specifically, details on channel estimation, beamforming weight calculation and equalization as well as fronthaul requirements will be studied.
Additionally, the DeepSig Omniphy neural receiver will be ported to operate on reference hardware provided by Qualcomm and Fujitsu.
Expected outcomes: The result of this program will be a prototype manufacturing readiness level (MRL 4) with the manufacturing risk that hardware changes could be required to process all MMIMO layers.
DeepSig, Fujitsu, and Qualcomm are all commercially focused and have the resources to rapidly transition research to commercial O-RUs.
The project enables O-RU and chipset vendors to implement advanced artificial intelligence (AI) functions to engender a healthy and cost competitive MMIMO O-RU ecosystem.
Additionally, DeepSig expects this work to make AI enhancements available industrywide.
Intended beneficiaries: DeepSig will collaborate with project partners and others in ORAN and 3GPP standardization efforts to make AI/machine learning (ML) enhancements available industrywide.
Standardization will enable more vendors to operate in the telecom space and support small business efforts.
Subrecipient activities: DeepSig does not list any subrecipients in their application.
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
Arlington,
Virginia
22203-4173
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Deepsig was awarded
MMIMO O-RU Advancement for Commercial Deployment
Project Grant 5160IF2418
worth $9,964,628
from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in February 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Arlington Virginia United States.
The grant
has a duration of 3 years and
was awarded through assistance program 11.038 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program – Expanding Testing and Evaluation.
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 2/4/25
Period of Performance
2/1/25
Start Date
1/31/28
End Date
Funding Split
$10.0M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$10.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
5160IF2418
SAI Number
5160IF2418_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
KQM1EEJGW6K8
Awardee CAGE
7S4V3
Performance District
VA-08
Senators
Mark Warner
Timothy Kaine
Timothy Kaine
Modified: 2/4/25