Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Asia Open RAN Academy in the Philippines. Enhancing knowledge and accessibility of open radio access networks (Open RAN) has the potential to significantly reshape the global telecommunications network ecosystem, lowering costs, improving network security, and encouraging innovation.
The Asia Open RAN Academy is a partnership with government, businesses, and civil society across the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and leading global telecommunications companies Fujitsu, NEC, NTT DOCOMO, and Rakuten Symphony. The Academy will bring safe and secure cutting-edge technology from Japan and the United States to the Indo-Pacific region.
“I am delighted with the launch of the Asia Open RAN Academy. This new and innovative information technology partnership will provide people across the Indo-Pacific region with access to secure and sustainable communication networks,” noted U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel. “It is imperative that every nation’s telecommunications be secure, affordable, and accessible to all citizens, and collaborative institutions like the Asia Open RAN Academy will help us to achieve this goal. By partnering with Japan and other nations, we will provide critical communications support that is open and transparent, has no strings attached, and is free from coercion.”
U.S. President Biden committed to expanding the Asia Open RAN Academy program during his May 2022 visit to Japan, noting that Open RAN will lower costs by increasing supplier diversity and competition.