The Open RAN Test Lab will be situated in Quezon City, Metro Manila, and is based on the VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR).
VIAVI Solutions declared that it has been chosen to plan, build, and run a comprehensive lab to increase Open RAN usage, reduce entry barriers for new operators, and develop a highly qualified workforce that can support the Open RAN market in Asia.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding the lab through the Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) Project in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Electronics and Electrical Engineering Institute (EEEI) and Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA).
The Open RAN Test lab will be situated in Quezon City, Metro Manila, and is based on the VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR).
The United States and the Philippines launched the Open Radio Access Network (RAN) Interoperability Laboratory as part of President Marcos’ historic May 2023 visit to the White House.
In accordance with the VALOR blueprint, the lab uses a novel, highly automated hybrid testing Laboratory-as-a-Service (LaaS) to fully address the accessibility, affordability, and availability of testing and assessment of Open RAN networks.
VIAVI will replicate the VALOR reference architecture in the Philippines Open RAN Laboratory and integrate parts from reliable hardware and software suppliers, such as Fujitsu and SOLiD, that have been hand-picked to exemplify the spirit of multi-vendor Open RAN.
The NITRO Wireless Open RAN Test Suite will perform end-to-end validation as manufacturers incorporate their products into this environment:
- The TM500 Network Tester provides UE and RU emulation
- OneAdvisor 800 Wireless provides portable spectrum analysis
- VIAVI drive / walk test
- VAMOS provides test orchestration, analysis, validation, and reporting.
Key Comments
“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 USAID Philippines Director of the Office of Economic Development and Governance Amy Lovejoy.
“We are confident that the Open RAN Laboratory will be fully utilized by the university in executing research and extension that will improve connectivity for every Filipino to drive our country’s digital transformation,” said UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II. UP has already awarded USAID-supported scholarships towards connectivity research and development that will use the lab.
“VIAVI is proud to extend our leadership in Open RAN test labs to the Philippines,” said Rajesh Rao, Vice President, Asia Pacific South, VIAVI. “Our globally proven NITRO Wireless test suite, automated by the VAMOS framework, integrates best-in-class products to provide a robust test environment. We appreciate the confidence from USAID, UP EEEI, and the Asia Open RAN Academy in VIAVI and our partnership with technology leaders. We are excited to enable high quality interoperable telecom infrastructure and associated services in 5G, and progressively towards 6G.”
VALOR is funded by the U.S. NTIA Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund.
For Further Info on Open RAN test labs, CLICK HERE
