CHANDLER, Ariz., and STEVENAGE, England, Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAVI) (NASDAQ: VIAV) today announced that the company is part of three consortia that have won funding in the Open Networks Ecosystem (ONE) competition sponsored by the U.K. Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). VIAVI and partners submitted successful bids for HiPer-RAN led by University of Surrey, REACH led by University of York, and ARIANE led by Telecom Infra Project (TIP).
DSIT has awarded £88 million for organizations to develop a range of software and hardware products that will enable enhanced development and adoption of open and interoperable technology and demonstrate Open RAN technologies in high-demand environments.
VIAVI participated in the following winning bids:
The ONE competition was part of the government's Open Networks R&D Fund which delivers on the £250 million 5G Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Strategy through a range of projects. These include the Future RAN Competition (FRANC), the Future Open Networks Research Challenge, as well as bodies such as SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre (SONIC Labs), the UK Telecoms Innovation Network – with VIAVI contributing expertise or lab validation solutions to all of these initiatives.
"Whether you're in a busy city centre or a rural village, a fast and reliable mobile connection is vital to staying in touch, accessing services and doing business. In order to secure that, we need to embrace a diverse and secure range of technology that will underpin the network," said U.K. Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure Sir John Whittingdale. "The projects we're backing today with £88 million in government research and development investment will use innovative Open RAN solutions to make our mobile networks more adaptable and resilient, with future-proofed technology to support bringing lightning-fast connections across the country for many years to come."
"VIAVI is proud to be a partner in the DSIT ONE flagship program for Open Network R&D in the U.K.," said Ian Langley, Senior Vice President, Wireless Business Unit, VIAVI. "We look forward to working with our consortium partners to overcome network challenges such as HDD environments, AI conflict mitigation for x/rApps, RIC cybersecurity, RAN traffic management and energy efficiency, supported by the VIAVI U.K. Engineering R&D Centre of Excellence, based in Stevenage."
Notes to EditorsThe Open Networks Ecosystem (ONE) competition is part of the government's £250 million 5G Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Strategy, fostering telecoms R&D projects including Future RAN Competition (FRANC), Future Open Networks Research Challenge, and entities like SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre (SONIC Labs), UK Telecoms Innovation Network, and UK Telecoms Lab.
ONE launched on 14 March 2023, offering organisations funding to develop software and hardware products for enhanced open and interoperable technology, including funding for demonstrations of Open RAN technologies in high-demand density environments.
The UK government's Open RAN Principles set out the characteristics that open-interface solutions, such as Open RAN, should possess in order to deliver on the UK's 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy's goals for resilient and secure networks with competitive and innovative supply chains.
The UK government and UK mobile network operators have a joint ambition to carry 35% of the UK's mobile network traffic over open and interoperable RAN architectures by 2030. Read the joint statement here.
About VIAVIVIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. In 2023, we celebrate over 100 years of Network Transformation and Optical Innovation. Learn more about VIAVI at www.viavisolutions.com. Follow us on VIAVI Perspectives, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Media Inquiries:
North America Sonus PR Martin Smith | Europe, Middle East & Africa Sonus PR Chevaan Seresinhe | Asia Pacific Voila Communications Manish Sharma |
China Archetype Geff Pan |
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viavi-and-partners-awarded-funding-for-three-projects-in-dsit-one-competition-301929829.html
SOURCE VIAVI Solutions