OpenRAN has emerged as the frontrunner to drive 5G security and innovation around the world
The US wants its seat at the table: Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting Chairwoman of the FCC, has been an early advocate of OpenRAN – she was talking about “unlocking the RAN” two years ago, when many countries were barely starting to ask themselves what to do with Huawei. Now she wants the regulator to begin a formal discussion on OpenRAN. If the inquiry gets the go-ahead from fellow commissioners (at the next meeting on 17 March), it will seek input from a broad range of stakeholders on the current status of OpenRAN development, and on what the FCC can do to foster its success and support competitiveness in the market. Unlike in the UK where a telecoms supply chain review resulted in OpenRAN as a possible solution, the FCC is starting out with the solution.
OpenRAN is not going anywhere, so better wise up: The FCC would do well in growing its own expertise on the topic of OpenRAN. Recent legislation put forward in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with strong bipartisan support, proposed to launch grant schemes to support the development of OpenRAN, making available $750m for 10 years up to 2031. If the law is adopted, the FCC will have a role in the advisory committee that sets the strategic direction of the programme, and the Government’s efforts to diversify the 5G supply chain. With lawmakers clearly determined to give OpenRAN a go, the FCC is right to pursue a proactive approach.
Different strategy, same outcome? The telecoms policy of the Biden administration will differ from the Trump era in many respects – but is unlikely to be dramatically different when it comes to network security and the perceived threat from China. But there are early signs that the strategic approach to the issue will change. The focus will be on setting higher standards that Chinese products and services will then have to meet to operate in the US market, rather than outright excluding Chinese companies and openly seeking a trade war. The recent decisions of the Federal Government to drop lawsuits against TikTok and WeChat go precisely in that direction, and the approach to 5G network security is unlikely to be any different.
Source: https://www.fcc.gov/document/acting-chairwoman-rosenworcel-proposes-open-ran-notice-inquiry
