VIAVI Solutions Inc. (VIAVI) has been selected to bring a comprehensive lab adopting an open Radio Access Network (RAN) in the Philippines.
The lab will be located in Quezon City, Metro Manila, based on the VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR). It is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) Project in collaboration with the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Electronics and Electrical Engineering Institute (EEEI) and Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA).
Creating an Open RAN lab lowers the barriers for new companies to enter the market. It also helps train a skilled workforce that can support the Open RAN industry in Asia.
Open RAN is an initiative that encourages utilizing open standards and interfaces in designing and deploying radio access networks (RAN). It seeks to enhance telecommunications networks, making them more adaptable, efficient, and responsive to evolving demands, especially with the rise of 5G and beyond.
At the Philippines Open RAN Laboratory, VIAVI will set up a system that follows the reference design from VALOR. It will use parts from trusted hardware and software companies, including Fujitsu and SOLiD, to reflect the idea of multi-vendor Open RAN.
VALOR’s blueprint will create a lap that focuses on making testing and evaluation of Open RAN networks more available, affordable, and accessible. It will do this through an innovative and highly automated service called Laboratory-as-a-Service (LaaS).
This was made possible in May 2023, when Philippine President Marcos Jr. made deals with the United States to launch a flagship initiative for the Open Radio Access Network (RAN) Interoperability Laboratory.
“By promoting open architecture, we foster innovation, empower local operators, drive competition, and ultimately expand life-changing digital access for the Filipino people, fulfilling President Biden’s and President Marcos’ shared vision of a prosperous, secure Indo-Pacific region,” said Amy Lovejoy, USAID Philippines Director of the Office of Economic Development and Governance.
Learn more about VIAVI through its official website at https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us.
Leave a comment